Most of us know that chiropractic care can help people with chronic pain, joint issues, and alignment or posture problems. But did you know some patients also report relief from allergy symptoms? With spring underway, millions of Americans are struggling with seasonal allergies and irritation caused by airborne pollen.

Due to high pollen counts in many areas around the nation, doctors are predicting a busy allergy season this year. Whether you’re already struggling with allergy symptoms or are prone to seasonal flare-ups, it may be time to make a chiropractic appointment.

What Causes Allergy Issues?

The nuanced ins and outs of how allergies work are still debated. One of the more common beliefs is that increased susceptibility to allergic reactions to environmental factors may be linked to high levels of mental and emotional stress. Both stress and allergies create similar inflammation in the body, and heightened stress can increase your body’s reaction to allergens.

This issue may be tied to cortisol — a hormone that fights inflammation. The body produces excess cortisol and wears out the glands when under prolonged stress, interfering with its natural ability to reduce inflammation.

It is also possible that allergy symptoms are affected by miscommunication between the spine and brain. If a spinal bone is misaligned, inflammation can result. The brain then receives signals that may create allergy-like symptoms.

While there is a lack of concrete medical studies linking chiropractic care to reduced allergy symptoms, many chiropractic professionals report an improvement in their patients’ allergies while under chiropractic care.

[Related: Four Simple Spring Wellness Tips]

How Does Chiropractic Care Reduce Allergy Symptoms?

Chiropractic care can help improve quality of life for allergy sufferers in a number of ways. Patients who receive hands-on therapies such as those administered during a chiropractic care regimen often report reduced levels of stress and muscular tension. This can help your body better regulate its responses to allergens.

Additionally, sometimes subluxation of the spine can cause issues similar to those created by allergies. Regular adjustments can help correct subluxation, improve communication between the spine and brain, and even strengthen your immune system.

Your chiropractor can also help you make lifestyle and diet changes that could reduce allergic reactions and inflammation. Combine that with reduced stress hormones, allowing your body to naturally combat inflammation, and the potential for serious relief increases. If medications alone aren’t controlling your allergy symptoms, chiropractic care may help you get them under control.

Contact Spencer Chiropractic Center today with any questions about how we can help your allergy symptoms!

Pregnancy has its ups and downs. While becoming a parent can be a joyful experience, pregnancy and childbirth take a significant toll on the body. For this reason, many women receive traditional prenatal care from an OB/GYN, but fewer consider the benefits of simultaneous chiropractic treatment.

A trained chiropractic professional who is knowledgeable about safely treating pregnant women can properly perform adjustments and supplemental care without risk to mother or child. In fact, adjustments can actually improve an expecting woman’s symptoms, which in turn reduces stress and strain on the baby. If you are an otherwise healthy pregnant woman and are searching for additional ways to relieve pain, tension, alignment issues, and more, you may want to consider visiting a local chiropractor.

Proper Spinal and Hip Alignment Can Reduce Pregnancy Pain

From the moment you conceive, your body begins to undergo a series of rapid changes. As your uterus expands to accommodate your developing baby and fluctuating hormones cause aches and pains, your back may need a little extra attention.

In addition to offsetting growing pains and hormonal changes, chiropractic care during pregnancy may:

• Reduce discomfort in the back, neck, hips, and joints
• Reduce morning sickness and general nausea symptoms
• Allow for a healthier and more comfortable pregnancy overall

Chiropractic Care Can Improve Maternal Health

From its pain reduction and stress relieving potential to the possibility of reducing the risk of a c-section, chiropractic care during pregnancy offers a lot of benefit with little associated risk.

If you’re pregnant, you should consider chiropractic care in addition to traditional prenatal services. Hands-on adjustments can help your body better weather the physical demands of pregnancy while reducing unwanted aches, pains and tension.

You likely already know that chiropractic care can help you manage chronic pain, improve your posture, and potentially boost your athletic performance. What you may not know is that chiropractic treatment can also help support your immune system, which is especially critical during the winter cold and flu season.

Strong immune function is essential in order to avoid succumbing to illness when our bodies are exposed to viruses and bacteria. Regular chiropractic care can provide the defense you need to remain healthy.

How Chiropractic Care Affects Your Immune System

Much of how our bodies behave is interconnected with other functions and systems. In humans, the nervous system, immune system, and endocrine system are all linked to one another. These three systems communicate by using tiny chemical messengers, specifically a compound called interleukin-2 (IL-2). An increase in IL-2 and improved function of critical immune system cells called T-cells are commonly experienced by those who have recently undergone a single chiropractic adjustment session.

[Related: Benefits of and Important Reasons for Regular Chiropractic Adjustments]

The improved performance of the T-cells and increased presence of IL-2 results in a stronger, more robust immune system response. Connect the dots and it becomes clear that chiropractic care has the power to cause improved immune function, thereby helping your body stave off disease and infection and better recover from them. For instance, one study conducted during the Spanish Influenza Pandemic of 1918 revealed that those receiving chiropractic care were much more likely than the average infected person to survive their infection.

Chiropractic Care Offers a Wide Range of Benefits

Depending on the reasons for seeking chiropractic care, you can expect a host of real benefits from regular adjustments. From decreased levels of pain to improved immune function, chiropractic care can offer even more than an aligned spine.

If you are interested in the potential benefits of chiropractic adjustments, contact Spencer Chiropractic today. Let’s work together to help you enjoy a better wellbeing!

Image via Tina Franklin

As part of the comprehensive chiropractic care our patients receive, Spencer Chiropractic is proud to offer the many benefits of massage therapy. Our Licensed Massage Practitioner, Christy Richards, lends her expertise to patients who are good candidates, employing a variety of techniques to promote whole-body health and healing.

Whether you’re hoping to relax and unwind, recuperate after a sports injury, or manage pain from a soft tissue injury, a regular, professional massage regimen that applies techniques appropriate for your personalized treatment plan can make a world of difference. Here are just a few of the several treatment approaches that may be applied during a table session.

Soft Tissue Release

Soft tissue release is an ideal massage technique for those with injuries or severe muscular stress. It is built on the therapeutic concept of myofascial release, which is where connective tissue is manually massaged to promote the natural, spontaneous release of the tissue as well as the muscle group being targeted. This release results in the muscle once again conforming to its uninjured resting length and often an immediate reduction in pain symptoms.

Deep Tissue Massage

While it is similar to Swedish massage, deep tissue massage targets the deeper muscles and fascia (connective tissue). It combines slow, firm strokes with deep finger pressure to increase blood circulation and promote relaxation. It may also result in a decrease in blood pressure and increase natural production of serotonin, the hormone that promotes an overall sense of happiness.

[Related: How Massage and Chiropractic Care Work Together]

Sports Massage

Sports massage is an umbrella term used to describe a variety of massage techniques intended to reduce discomfort from sports-related injuries and strain. This technique generally focuses on areas of the body that are used the most and prone to injury or tension. For a runner, this may be their legs and lower back, while a softball pitcher will likely need more of an upper-body focus. Regular sports massage can improve old injuries, reduce the likelihood of future injuries, and potentially even improve performance in a wide variety of sports.

Neuromuscular Massage Technique

Also called trigger point myotherapy, neuromuscular massage was developed for those with nerve-related pain, particularly in the lower back. By using alternating degrees of focused pressure on an area prone to tension and spasms, the therapist can help reduce or eliminate spasms and the pain associated with them.

Swedish Massage

As the name implies, this general massage technique was developed in Sweden. It is one of the best known forms of massage. Swedish massage aims to promote full body relaxation by relaxing the muscles throughout the body. The massage therapist uses long, gliding strokes that follow the path of the circulatory system in toward the heart. This technique not only relaxes the body, it can also promote oxygenation of blood and even lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

Contact Spencer Chiropractic Center today to discuss the different types of massage techniques, and which one would work best for you!

Those have already visited a chiropractic office probably know that many chiropractic facilities also offer professional medical massage for their patients. This isn’t just because those who seek chiropractic care may also benefit from massage; it’s because chiropractic care and massage can work together synergistically, improving your overall response to the therapies.

What’s the Difference Between Chiropractic Care and Massage?

For those who are unfamiliar or new to chiropractic care, its focus is primarily on the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system to lessen discomfort and improve overall health. This is often achieved through manual manipulation of the spine, neck, and extremities.

Massage is the skilled manipulation of muscular tissue to improve tone, reduce tension and pain, and aid in overall health. Both of these hands-on techniques work well on their own, but together, they can provide patients with amazing relief from symptoms.

[Related: Deconstructing Five Common Massage Techniques]

Benefits of Massage Before Chiropractic Adjustment

One of the simplest ways that massage and chiropractic care work together is by increasing muscular relaxation. Massage prior to a chiropractic appointment or adjustment can result in looser, less tense muscles, which in turn make the body accept the manipulations more easily. Without needing to battle against muscular tension, the chiropractic professional will likely have a much simpler and more effective hands-on session with the patient.

Benefits of Massage After Chiropractic Adjustment

If, like many people, a patient prefers to receive massage therapy after a chiropractic session, the massage can offer additional benefits for the patient. It can lessen any soreness from the chiropractic session and decrease the amount of time needed between sessions. It can also help the body to recover more quickly, leading to better results from treatment. Massage helps increase circulation of blood throughout muscle tissue, which can help relieve any built up lactic acid created by work or athletic activity. This can help improve a patient’s sense of wellbeing and reduce their recovery time after training.

Work With Your Doctor to Determine Frequency

Used in conjunction for the same symptoms and conditions, massage and chiropractic services can truly increase the speed of recovery, reduce pain and discomfort, and improve overall health. If you are considering engaging in chiropractic care for any of a number of conditions, you should speak with your chiropractor to see if they recommend massage for the same condition.

Depending on the doctor’s suggestions, you may end up receiving massage every time you come in for an adjustment, or every other time. How often you receive massage with your chiropractic care depends on the nature of your needs and how your body responds.

What is clear, however, is that if it is administered professionally, massage can greatly improve your response to chiropractic care and your personal sense of wellbeing. Contact Spencer Chiropractic Center today with any questions regarding massage in tandem with your regular chiropractic adjustments.