There are many misconceptions when it comes to chiropractic care; one being the debate whether it is a necessity to our overall heath. Unfortunately, most people are unaware of the benefits of regular chiropractic care, even when one doesn’t have any screaming symptoms!
While we know we need to see a dentist every 6 months and our primary care physicians annually for our wellness visits, we never consider our overall spinal health. Remember, when it comes to health problems, symptoms are the last things to show up. Basically, whether it’s a cavity, skin irritation, or back pain, the underlying problem has been present for a while, but the pain and/or irritation of that problem may not show its ugly head until further down the road, when all along the way the severity and chronicity of the problem has been increasing.
For instance, the average human head weighs roughly the same as a bowling ball, which is quite a large weight to be supported by the neck, especially when you bend over, which increases the force on your neck. This weight, although we are used to it, is continuously weighing down on the rest of the body. Furthermore, we have over 200 bones in our body, which are constantly undergoing motion in one way or another. This movement impacts joints, nerves, muscles, etc., leading to what chiropractors refer to as subluxations. Subluxation is defined as simply a slight misalignment of the vertebrae.
Typically, the daily grind alone can be attributed as a constant source of subluxations. Most of the time, our bodies are able to correct minor injuries on their own, but when the body is unable to self-correct, that would be the time to call a chiropractor. Just as one will have to see a primary care doctor or dentist more often in the case of a problem, until it is resolved, the same applies to chiropractic care. A chiropractor will need to see an individual for a prescribed amount of time until they reach stability, moving appointments further and further apart as stability improves, and alignment remains consistent.
However, rather than wait until your body is screaming for some neck and/or back pain relief, regular chiropractic care can help maintain a healthy spinal alignment, support good posture, and optimize your overall health.
