5 Signs Your Back or Neck Pain May Need a Chiropractor

Chiropractic medicine focuses on restoring, preserving, and enhancing health through non-invasive, hands-on care. Although treatment can provide relief from many conditions, including back and neck pain, tension and stress, and joint pain, it can also be used to prevent problems from occurring in the future. You can learn more here about the signs that might indicate the need for you to see a chiropractor for back or neck trouble.

A chiropractor specializes in the treatment of the neuromusculoskeletal system, which consists of the nervous system, joints, and muscles. Most patients seek help from a chiropractor for back and neck pain, however, the whole-body system can function better when the nervous system is working optimally.

What Does Chiropractic Treatment Involve?

Chiropractic treatment is a safe and effective non-surgical, non-medication form of pain relief that typically focuses on the spine and skull. A chiropractor can evaluate where poor functioning joints, nerves, muscles, and cranial bones result in pain and mobility problems, as well as overall poor health.

Chiropractic treatment utilizes a range of techniques and adjustments to realign the spine and free up any subluxations, which are vertebrae in the spinal column that may have moved slightly out of place. A subluxation can result in pain, stiffness, and reduced function. Freeing or restoring a vertebra to the correct position can help the body heal more effectively.

Chiropractors may use several adjustment techniques such as using their hands or specialized instruments. In the majority of cases, adjustments do not cause pain, although sometimes there may be temporary discomfort and you may hear a popping sound.

Chiropractic adjustments may be used alone or in conjunction with other therapies, such as massage, hot or cold therapy treatments, or physical therapy, to optimize the results. A chiropractor may also provide nutritional and lifestyle advice, and an exercise program to help improve symptoms and overall health and wellbeing.

Signs You Need a Chiropractor for Back or Neck Pain

1. Persistent Back or Neck Pain

Chronic back or neck pain can be triggered by a number of factors, including bad posture, ruptured disks, impingement, spinal misalignments, arthritis, or an injury, such as a muscle strain. It can be caused by improper lifting, a lack of exercise, sitting for long periods, age-related problems, excess weight, stress and tension, and smoking.

A chiropractor can establish the root cause of the problem and provide effective pain relief. Spinal manipulation can help to correct many spine-related issues and relieve pain. Chiropractors also offer education, guidance, and exercises to help improve symptoms and ways to perform daily tasks more safely to prevent future problems.

2. Limited Movement in the Back or Neck

If you are experiencing a limited range of motion in the back or neck, it can prevent you from carrying out your normal day-to-day activities. Limited movement may be caused by injury, tension, or conditions such as arthritis, and it may be accompanied with pain, stiffness, and swelling. A chiropractor will measure your range of movement, along with other factors such as flexibility, balance, and coordination, and develop a treatment plan based on the results.

3. Muscle Soreness or Joint Pain

If you are suffering from persistent soreness or pain in your muscles or joints, particularly if you are very physically active, it may be a sign of misalignment or subluxation in the spine. Not warming up or cooling down properly, overexertion, and increasing intensity too quickly can all take a toll on the body. Chiropractic medicine can help relieve pain and resolve underlying issues contributing to pain.

4. There is Irregular Wear on Your Shoes

Uneven wear on the soles of shoes can indicate a misalignment in the spine. Your chiropractor may assess your gait by watching you walk. They will focus on aspects such as length of stride, heel placement, the angle of the pelvis, and arm movement to identify any specific issues. They can then offer treatment and/or advice to help correct any issues.

5. Chronic Headaches or Migraines

Although headaches and migraines can result from a variety of factors, such as dehydration, stress, illness, or vitamin deficiencies, they can also be caused by muscle tension in the neck and misalignments in the spine. Poor posture and sitting for long periods are common causes of spinal misalignments. A chiropractor can help correct these misalignments and improve posture to help relieve headache symptoms and prevent them from occurring in the future.

Chiropractic medicine can also result in better overall health by helping to increase circulation, release endorphins, reduce blood pressure, and improve nerve communication, joint movement, and posture.

Experienced Chiropractor in Wooster, Ohio

If you would like to learn about how chiropractic care can help you, contact HealthPoint, Wooster Community Hospital’s outpatient facility. We provide chiropractic services to treat a range of conditions, including low back pain, neck pain, sciatica, headaches, arthritis, and sports injuries. We also specialize in spinal/extremity adjustments, pediatric adjustments, and prenatal adjustments to provide effective pain relief and help improve overall health and well-being.

To learn more about our chiropractic services, contact HealthPoint at (330) 202-2225. Alternatively, you can request an appointment online.