We are halfway through December, and you may feel like your life is on hold until you have finished with your holiday celebrations. Often, people get sick more during the winter months because they are busy, stressed, and not taking care of themselves. Taking a little time out to see to your health in the middle of the holidays can make the season brighter. After all, you want to feel your best for all the celebrations you’ll be attending or hosting over the next few weeks. Here are five reasons why you should put a trip to the chiropractor on your December to-do list.
1. Fight of Holiday Illness
Chiropractic care fixes subluxations in the spine that hinder nervous system function. Since your nervous system and immune system are intricately linked, chiropractic care positively impacts immune health. Adjustments can also help mitigate symptoms of chronic conditions like allergies or asthma that can make you more miserable in the winter months. Subluxations in the middle and upper back have been linked to worsening asthma symptoms and other breathing problems.
It’s common to feel run down this time of year, and chiropractic care can help by easing symptoms of stress and promoting better sleep. When your nervous system is functioning optimally, you will feel better and be less prone to illness.
2. Reduce Pain and Stiffness
The combination of holiday stress and cold temperatures can cause an increase in muscle and joint pain. By relieving stress and correcting underlying structural problems, adjustments improve symptoms of tension-related shoulder and neck pain. Adjustments can also be performed on other joints to reduce pain and increase range of motion.
Modern chiropractic care offers other treatments besides manual adjustments.We use K-laser therapy on clients dealing with joint pain, repetitive use injuries, and strains. This innovative treatment uses red and near-infrared light to stimulate healing on a cellular level. Chronic pain conditions and slow-healing injuries respond well to K-laser treatments.
Massage is another wonderful treatment for stress-induced aches and pains. Combining massage with spinal adjustment will treat the structural causes of pain and address the muscle tension that may have caused these problems.
Being in pain is never fun, and it’s especially difficult during the holidays when there is so much to do. Seeing your chiropractor this month can help you be pain-free and have more energy for your holiday season.
3. To Help With SAD
Seasonal Affective Disorder is a common cause of depression during the winter months. It’s caused by changes in brain chemicals that happen as a response to shorter days and less sunlight. SAD sometimes requires multiple treatments, especially if symptoms are severe. Medication, light therapy, and talk therapy can help. Seeing a chiropractor can also help manage symptoms. As with many chiropractic benefits, this has to do with the effect of spinal adjustment on the nervous system.
Loss of normal curvature in the cervical spine in your neck can stretch the spinal cord and put a strain on your brain stem. The brain stem performs many vital functions, including managing your circadian rhythms. Keeping your spine healthy can prevent this strain and help your body adapt to seasonal changes.
For individuals already dealing with seasonal depression, the added stress of the holiday season can make symptoms worse. Massage has been proven to reduce stress and anxiety and improve depression symptoms.
4. Prevent Holiday Travel Pains
Socks? Check. Plane tickets? Check. But what about a visit to the chiropractor? An adjustment should be on your travel checklist before and after you travel this holiday season. Getting adjusted before sitting for hours in a car or airplane can keep any existing subluxations from acting up and causing you pain on your trip. After you get back from sleeping on sleeper sofas and dragging luggage around, you are bound to feel a bit stiff and achy. Another adjustment after your trip can fix your back up, so you don’t deal with pain after the holidays.
If you have a chronic condition that you know always gives you trouble on a trip, getting some pre-trip treatment can mitigate your discomfort. Consider spinal decompression therapy or a series of specialized adjustments for your condition. Many “chronic” injuries can be healed with the right treatment.
In addition to providing in-office therapies, your chiropractor can also prescribe stretches and exercises to help you feel your best while traveling.
5. Get a Head Start on Your New Year’s Goals
Many people put better health at the top of their New Year’s resolution list. Chiropractic care can help you reach many healthy goals.
People with chronic back or neck pain that they want to address in the New Year can get a jump start by seeing a chiropractor in December for a consultation. You can set up a treatment plan to start immediately or after the holidays, whichever works for you. Having a plan in place before the clock strikes midnight on the 31st can help you follow through. Treatments like spinal decompression therapy have been clinically proven to reduce or eliminate chronic back pain in about 80% of patients. But this treatment, like most others, requires a commitment to a treatment plan that may last several weeks. The payoff is that you could spend most of next year pain-free.
One of the most common healthy New Year’s goals is a new or improved workout plan. Before you dive into this, it’s a good idea to make sure your spine is in optimal condition. A healthy spine will help you perform better and make you less prone to injuries. You should also see a chiropractor regularly in the new year to support the changes your body will undergo as your fitness improves. More muscle mass or a drastic weight change can impact your balance and back health. Regular adjustments will keep everything functioning optimally.
Chiropractic Care in Murfreesboro
Stanlick Chiropractic has three convenient locations to serve your healthcare needs in the Murfreesboro area. This month we are offering a holiday special to help you meet your wellness goals. When you make an appointment for December, you’ll receive your initial visit, wellness exam, and first treatment for only $39. Don’t wait for the new year to feel better. Come in now and enjoy your holidays pain-free.