Summer is in full swing! Now is the time to get outside and enjoy all the season has to offer. Of course, you’ll want to do everything you can to avoid injury and keep yourself in tip-top shape to enjoy the season. Back, neck, or knee pain can take the fun out of hiking and other warm-weather activities. Your chiropractor can help you fix any existing problems and avoid new injuries. 

Here are six reasons to see your chiropractor this summer. 

1. Relieve Traveling Related Pain

Everyone who has ever sat in a car or coach for hours knows what a number it can do on your back. Simple hacks can help you mitigate the damage from your summer trip. Horseshoe pillows, lumbar pillows, and seat adjustments go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and preventing injury. Still, you will most likely need a tune-up when you get home. Your chiropractor can fix subluxations that happened during your travels and ease stiff muscles. 

Seeing your chiropractor before you leave can also help you avoid discomfort while on your trip. When the spine is aligned correctly, it’s less prone to injury. You’ll enjoy the improved flexibility when trying to turn around to tell your kids to stop fighting in the back seat. You’ll also be less likely to pull a muscle while taking a selfie. 

2. Improve Athletic Performance

Did you know that most professional sports teams keep a chiropractor on contract? They do this for several reasons. Chiropractic care is proven to help athletes avoid injury, recover faster from tough games and perform better. You read that right. Seeing a chiropractor regularly can help you play a better game.

 Researchers think spinal adjustment improves range of motion and helps the nervous system work optimally. A healthier nervous system leads to faster reflexes and fewer fumbles. Since your recovery time will also improve, that means you’ll be able to optimize your practice schedule.

3. Prevent Injuries

When your spine is out of alignment, it strains the muscles and other soft tissues around it. These already strained muscles are then more prone to injury. That same increased flexibility and range of motion that improves athletic performance also prevents injuries. Regularly seeing a chiropractor leads to fewer injuries on and off the field. 

You don’t have to be an athlete to receive this benefit. Summer yard work is a sport, too, and your back will thank you for keeping it in good shape. You’ll want to ensure your spine is aligned before heading out on a hike or hitting the pool. It’s never fun to be injured, but it’s even less fun in the summer.

4. Heal Joint Pain

You might associate chiropractors with back and neck pain, but they can also help with other kinds of joint pain. Your body works as a mechanical system. When one thing gets thrown off, it affects the whole machine. For instance, if your feet are not adequately supported, you could experience knee, hip, and lower back pain. Your feet are the foundation of your body. If your gait is off, it destabilizes your knee and hip joints. 

Many people notice increased knee, hip, and foot pain in the spring and summer because they run or hike more often. Your chiropractor can evaluate your feet and gait and equip you with custom orthotics that support your unique physiology. Patients are often surprised when their chronic back or knee pain disappears after they start wearing custom orthotics. 

5. Boost Your Immune System

Both kids and adults can reap the immune-boosting powers of regular adjustments. The immune system is a collaboration between several body systems, including the nervous and lymph systems. A properly functioning nervous system does a better job of directing the immune response. 

The lymph system carries immune cells around the body, but unlike your circulatory system, it’s not pumped by your heart. Lymph depends on muscle and joint movement to flow around your body. Spinal adjustment assists this movement. Studies show people who receive regular adjustments have 200% greater immune competence than those who don’t. That means fewer colds and autoimmune issues like allergies. 

6. Manage Chronic Issues

Most people deal with at least one chronic health concern. In kids, chronic ear aches can be miserable for both the child and their parents. Kids and adults deal with asthma, allergies, anxiety, and digestive issues. These problems can cause misery year around but sometimes act up more during certain seasons. The good news is that chiropractic care can help with all these problems. 

Adjusting a particular vertebra in the neck frees the nerves that control the Eustachian tube. Studies show that in kids who deal with chronic ear aches, this adjustment helps them heal faster and experience fewer ear infections. It works because when the nerves are freed, they can open the Eustachian tubes and let them drain. This prevents a build-up of fluid that attracts bacterial growth. 

The upper part of your spine is home to nerves that control your diaphragm and lungs. People with a hunch in their upper spine often have problems breathing. Even less apparent issues with this part of the spine can increase asthma symptoms and other breathing problems. Getting adjusted regularly can help. Your chiropractor can also assist you with rehabbing your posture, so you don’t hunch forward and continue to damage your upper back. 

Impaired nerves can also cause digestive problems. Adjustment can free these nerves to work optimally to send the correct signals to your stomach and intestines. Anxiety often contributes to digestive issues, and regular adjustments may also improve anxiety symptoms. 

Chiropractic Care in Tennessee

At Stanlick Chiropractic, we provide holistic care for everyone in your family. We can help with aches and pains, posture problems, and chronic concerns. Schedule a consultation in July and receive your first appointment for only $39.