Whether you visit a chiropractor often, or you are thinking of trying chiropractic for the first time, it’s not always easy to know when it’s time for a visit. Some aches and pains are due to actual injuries that went undetected and which may need treatment beyond what chiropractic can offer.
While chiropractic can help injury-related issues when other treatments fail to entirely relieve pain, it’s in muscle injury prevention that a visit to your chiropractor can really help.
If any of the following situations are true for you, you should consider a visit to a chiropractor to help prevent muscle and/or joint injury.
- You lead a sedentary lifestyle or you are inactive for long periods of time. When you remain in one position for a long time, like sitting at your desk at work, or if you drive a vehicle for extended periods, it can affect your spine, overall posture and joints in ways that make you more susceptible to pain and injury.When your back and joints remain in one position for extended periods, muscles tend to hold one position and resist movement when needed, which can cause injury. Like when you get up from extend sitting and a ‘stiff’ joint causes you to lose balance.
- You’ve recently been in an accident. Trips, falls and motor vehicle accidents can affect your body in ways that are not immediately apparent. Even if you’ve been attended to by an MD, chiropractic can detect changes in the alignment of your spine that may not be noticed otherwise. Also, if you feel no pain now, the problem could become painful later and result in further injury if left untreated.
- Some of your activities involve repetitive motions – If your job or a pass-time mean you to constantly repeat the same motion for a period of time, like using a keyboard or pitching a baseball, it can cause pain and inflammation in affected joints, like your wrist or shoulder. That pain can lead to further injury by leaving your joint weaker and more painful to use. Chiropractic treatments can help reduce the inflammation and strengthen the joints to reduce the chance of further injury.
According to Active Heather Centre, muscle injuries are responsible for 10-55% of all sustained sport related injuries, while 90% of these are caused by strains or contusions that can take days to even weeks to heal. Whether you play sports or not, prevention more ideal than being sidelined.
If you’re still not sure whether a chiropractor can help, don’t be afraid to ask. Find a local chiropractor or get a referral from an acquaintance who has received chiropractic treatment. You have nothing to lose and you’ll probably end up feeling better, relieving joint pain and reducing muscle injuries.
