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While chiropractic care might be the best option for you to combat chronic back and neck pain and keep your musculoskeletal system in top condition, here are three other methods of care that could be additional forms of treatment for you.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy focuses on the body’s soft tissues through warming and loosening the body’s tendons and muscles that protect the joints and bones. Massage, especially deep tissue massage, has been proven to lower blood pressure.
Massage can also increase blood flow and positively affect connective tissues by reducing scar tissue and mineral retention, which will help promote efficient healing after injury. Additionally, massage relaxes the senses, which will assist you in forming a stronger connection between your body and mind.
By manipulating and warming the soft tissue around your musculoskeletal system, massage loosens your joints and bones, making your chiropractic session more beneficial. Stiff joints, especially during the winter, could greatly benefit from a massage session.
Infrared Sauna Therapy
Infrared saunas use heaters to emit infrared light as radiant heat. While regular saunas heat the air around you, infrared saunas heat your body directly. Studies show that infrared sauna therapy provides a variety of benefits, such as clear skin, detoxification, tension relief, low blood pressure, and relaxation.
Sauna therapy can be a perfect treatment for chronic aches and pains, as it decreases inflammation by improving muscle relaxation and circulation. When your body’s core temperature rises, your blood flow increases, and this in turn promotes muscle recovery and decreases pain.
Similar to massage, regular visits to an infrared sauna can assist in warming and loosening stiff joints and muscles, preparing you for a more beneficial chiropractic adjustment session.
Yoga
Enrolling in regular yoga classes or performing a morning sun salutation each day can drastically improve your health and wellness. Yoga is an ancient practice that focuses on steady breathing, meditation, core muscle control, and flexibility through a variety of different poses, depending on your class.
Low-impact poses done over time can alleviate stress, lower blood pressure, and heal chronic aches and pains, particularly in your neck and back. Paired with chiropractic sessions, yoga can improve your flexibility and range of motion, leaving you stronger (and more relaxed) than ever before.
When looking for a method of healing chronic aches and pains, don’t fall under the impression that a visit to the chiropractor is the sole solution. Your body will benefit most if you opt for a combination of healing methods that work for you, and let each unique practice lift the others up and heal you more quickly and holistically. Remember to consult your doctor when starting a new health or exercise regimen.
Visit Spencer Chiropractic Center today to find out more about chronic pain treatments, or check out our website to learn more about chiropractic benefits.