Spinal manipulation sounds scary, we know. Videos of neck cracking, back cracking, and more can be intimidating and downright frightening. But these loud cracking sounds aren’t an indication of damage or bone breakage! In reality, following spinal manipulation, our clients report a decrease in chronic pain, better posture, and overall better quality of life.
There are many benefits to getting your spine relieved of its aches and pains. If you are interested in learning more about how spinal manipulation works and how it can benefit your back and body issues, keep reading!
Are you looking for a reliable chiropractor? Call us at Ridgeway Health and Wellness today to book an appointment.
What is spinal manipulation?
Spinal manipulation is a common treatment when visiting a Chiropractor.
It is what it sounds like – a treatment that manipulates the spine. It is a method of a controlled thrust (force of a specific magnitude applied in a specific direction) by the practitioner’s hand or a device. The thrust may differ in strength, but the joint is moved more than it would on its own. The difference between spinal manipulation and spinal mobilisation is that spinal manipulation involves no thrusts (and is done within the joint’s natural range of motion so that the patient can control it).
How do chiropractic adjustments work?
Chiropractors make adjustments to correct misalignment, increase range of motion, or relieve pressure on neural pathways.
Chiropractic adjustments are performed in different ways by chiropractors. In some cases, joints can be restored by popping them back into place with their hands. In others, by using a drop table or activator, while in others, the process may involve gentle stretching to return them to their proper place.
A chiropractic adjustment can be achieved by using any of several methods to restore proper alignment to the joints and boost the body’s natural healing abilities.
What is misalignment?
If you have ever studied an anatomy textbook, you might have thought that the various organ systems of your body are isolated from one another. Your body is, in fact, interconnected. It all begins with the relationship between your spine and your central nervous system.
Your spinal cord and brain are the two parts of your central nervous system. You receive your peripheral nervous system through your spine, where your spinal cord runs directly from your brain.
If the joints are misaligned or rotated, the pressure would be put on the nerves. In addition to pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, and other symptoms, pinched nerves can affect other parts of the body as well.
This process is already familiar to anyone who has experienced the painful effects of sciatica. As opposed to experiencing symptoms at the location of the pinched nerve, people experience pain in their hips, buttocks, legs, or feet. The effects of misalignment may spread to your arms, your face, or even your stomach if it occurs at a different location.
Chiropractors follow a holistic health care philosophy that treats the body as a whole rather than as a separate system.
Can a chiropractic adjustment make you taller?
You might benefit from a chiropractic visit if you’ve been told to stop slouching!
Even though your height is entirely determined by genetics, your chiropractor will be able to help you achieve your maximum height potential through spinal adjustments. While spinal adjustments will not magically make you taller, they have been proven to straighten out the spine and stretch it, allowing you to appear anywhere from 2 to 4 inches taller than you were before.
How effective is chiropractic manipulation?
Adjustments for low back pain can be effective, although not all studies have found substantial benefits – similar to the results of more conventional treatments. Research suggests that spinal manipulation could also help headaches and neck pain, among other conditions associated with the spine.
Adjustments from a chiropractor may not be effective for everyone. You need to take into account the specifics of your situation. Chiropractic adjustment may not be the best option if your symptoms do not improve after several weeks/months of treatment. But change can take time.
Why does a chiropractic adjustment feel so good?
Misalignment of the spine can slow you down if your spine is affected by interferences (daily stress, toxins, injuries, etc.). As a result, the nervous system may be adversely affected. However, it doesn’t end there!
Since the nervous system is also connected to the endocrine system and immune system, it can also have adverse effects on these systems. Mobility issues and pain are indeed seen. In addition to headaches, low energy, and even depression, it is also at this point that other symptoms begin to show.
We are often unaware of the wear and tear that has been done to our spine and the systems dependent upon it until it has been corrected.
Get the best chiropractic services with Ridgeway Health and Wellness
Getting your first spinal manipulation session done does not have to be scary. Especially when you have seasoned and experienced professionals to trust with your body.
We have an experienced and professional chiropractic team that understands how spinal health can affect the health of the nervous system. By working with us, you can also experience the natural well-being of regular chiropractic adjustments.
Why wait? Schedule an appointment with Ridgeway Health and Wellness today!