If you stretch regularly, then hats off to you. You’re doing your body a great favor by keeping it suppler and more mobile. But just because you’re a stretching master doesn’t imply that you can weasel out of coming to see me.
What I do and what you do on your own definitely work together. But if you think that stretching alone will keep your body in the balanced state it should be, then I’m here to tell you otherwise.
Of course, I am. I’m a chiropractor. It’s my job.
More Than Snap, Crackle and Pop
I am not a bone cracker. What I do may elicit some surprising sounds while I’m working but those sounds come from your body’s alignment being restored.
Chiropractors use techniques like manipulation and adjustment to restore physical balance, benefiting the nervous system. When your spine is in alignment, your nervous system is operating as it should – as a communications hub between the body and the brain.
Only about 10% of nervous system function is dedicated to transmitting pain messages, so using pain as your bellwether of health (for good or for ill) isn’t the best policy. Regular visits to your chiropractor ensures that all systems are go and functioning optimally.
Keeping You Moving
A loss of mobility is one of the challenges we face as we grow older, but spinal dysfunction can cause this to become an issue earlier in life. Even if you feel alright and that your body is serving you well, your range of motion may not be as good as you think it is.
While global range of motion may be doing what you need it to, segmental range of motion may be suffering, if you’re not paying attention. That can lead to problems. But a chiropractor can help you pinpoint issues and correct them before they grow into big, mobility-robbing uglies.
Don’t Pop That Thing
Are you one of those back poppers? Stop it.
No, really. Just stop it.
While you may gain some satisfaction from doing this, you do so unaware of the fact that the sound of a pop (when it’s not professionally achieved) can also be the harbinger of instability in the spine. Vertebrae above and below that satisfying pop may become unstable.
You can do unwitting damage to structures like ligaments and joints. Here’s a fact that’ll interest you: I don’t pop my own back. Why? It’s not safe. The safe way to get that effect, professionally achieved, is under the care of a chiropractor. It’s what we do (but not all we do).
Back & Body Medical New York
I’m a chiropractor, working with a team which includes practitioners of acupuncture, sports medicine and physical therapy. Together, we address the individual patient, finding complex solutions that work.
This methodology creates 360-degree care for our patients, effectively relieving pain and restoring function. We’ve been so successful with our model that it’s won us awards.
If you’re ready to find out how chiropractic care can benefit your body, contact us.
