The surprise effects of chiropractic care:

Most people think of going to see a chiropractor when they have some kind of pain. Although chiropractic care is great for finding and treating the cause of joint and muscle pain, it can also improve the state of your overall health.

The central nervous system, which includes your brain and spinal cord, is the most important system in the body. The spinal cord, which is housed in the spinal column, has many branches of nerve fiber that pass though the vertebrae and supply not only the muscles and joints, but also the organs and tissues in our body. Our nervous system controls everything including digestion, breathing, stress response and movement. Most of our activities of daily living, such as driving, sitting at the office, working out at the gym, and many more, can cause stress to the body and the nervous system. Spinal misalignment and joint restrictions create tension on the nerves and can not only cause muscle and joint pain, but can also have a negative impact on your health and well being.

Chiropractors carefully assess the function and movement of the spine to find and treat restriction and misalignments. There are several well-studies benefits to chiropractic care, these include:

1. Increased blood flow to joints and muscles, which can reduce pain, and slow down osteoarthritis and normal wear and tear
2. Increased mobility and flexibility
3. Decreased stress on the body
4. Improved balance and coordination

Most people would be surprised to know that there are many other benefits to chiropractic care than just treating pain! Studies have shown that those who receive regular chiropractic care notice improvements in many aspects of their lives, including:

1. Better sleep: when your body is relaxed and functioning optimally, the quality of your sleep can also improve. Better sleep means more energy, better health and lowering your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease.
2. Lower blood pressure: studies have shown that chiropractic spinal adjustments can reduce blood pressure.
3. Reduced stress hormones: the stress hormone cortisol has been associated with weight gain, increased inflammation, lowered immune function, gastrointestinal and fertility problems. Chiropractic adjustment can reduce stress on the body and therefore decrease the production of cortisol.
4. Better digestion: the digestive tract is very sensitive to poor posture, chronic stress and increased cortisol levels. Chiropractic care can help improve digestion by addressing all of these issues!
5. Improved immune function: studies have shown the increase of immune cells after only one spinal adjustment!

If you are curious to try chiropractic but aren’t sure if you need it, just remember that a healthy body isn’t one that is just without pain, but is one that functions at its highest potential!

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