Spinal Manipulation 101: Treatment for Agonizing Muscle Pain

While it may be entirely new for some, spinal manipulation is a treatment that’s been known and used for decades to alleviate muscle pain. Moreover, this form of chiropractic care does wonders to the body to enhance a person’s overall wellness. And if this treatment intrigues you enough, read on because we’ll give you the basics of spinal manipulation and how it can ease your body and muscle pains.

What is Spinal Manipulation? 

Spinal manipulation is the combination of exercise, physical therapy, massage, and making adjustments in the joints. The technique is created to alleviate inflammation, boost the function of the nerves, and ease joint pressure. It is proven effective in healing neck, shoulder, and back pains, as well as headaches. It can also treat other ailments such as sinus problems and menstrual aches. 

In this treatment, chiropractors make adjustments to correct the misalignments that cause muscle pain and other body aches. These involve physical pulling, pushing, and systematic repositioning of the neck, shoulders, head, hips, and back. And while the process may seem painful and unsettling for some, spinal manipulation is actually a painless and non-invasive treatment.

Spinal Manipulation: How Safe Is It?

As mentioned, the treatment does not entail adverse effects or negative reactions because of its natural and non-invasive nature. Spinal manipulation is safe as long as a highly-trained and licensed chiropractor performs it. 

Nonetheless, there are still some exceptions when it comes to the people who can receive the treatment. For instance, spinal manipulation may not be appropriate for individuals with severe osteoporosis or spinal curvature. 

Also, it’s best to steer clear from this treatment if you have any of the following conditions:

• Spinal cancer
• High stroke risk
• Unstable spine

Furthermore, individuals who experience loss of strength in an arm or leg, numbness, or tingling shouldn’t undergo the procedure. 

Causes of Muscle Pain

Now that we have a better grasp of a known treatment for muscle pain, let’s dig deep into its causes. This will help us determine how spinal manipulation can best help alleviate the problem and prevent it from returning.

Strains and Sprains

Injuries cause muscle aches like sprains or strains. They’re the result of sudden and excessive pulling or stretching of a muscle that may cause tears in its fibers. This results in inflammation which, if not treated immediately, will worsen and lead to spasms and pain. 

Sprains and strains can often be treated with home remedies such as icing, heating, or taking anti-inflammatory pills. However, spinal manipulation can help speed up the healing process and prevent them from recurring.

Nutritional Deficiency

Poor nutrition is another cause of muscle pain. Vitamin D is responsible for ensuring the correct function of the muscles and assists in absorbing calcium. And lack of this vitamin can lead to hypocalcemia, a condition wherein the blood calcium level is low, affecting the organs, bones, and muscles.

Stress

When you are stressed, your muscles ache because your body is fighting off infections or inflammation. 

The symptoms of stress include:

• Shaking
• Rapid heart rate or palpitation
• Hypertension
• Chest pains
• Headache
• Shortness of breath or hyperventilation

While it’s natural for everyone to experience stress, too much of it can weaken not just our bodies but also our minds. Hence, it’d be best to seek long-term solutions such as spinal manipulation and making changes in our habits.

Lack of Sleep

We know that sleep plays a significant role in our bodies. And when you lack sleep, you become more prone to body aches and muscle pain because you don’t have enough energy to fight off fatigue.

Apart from that, not getting enough sleep can cause you to be:

• Slow and inactive
• Unable to think clearly
• Less productive

Dehydration

Staying hydrated helps the body function well. Thus, the lack of it can make your body more susceptible to fatigue, muscle pain, and other body aches. It also increases your chances of having indigestion and difficulty breathing. It is why everyone should drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water every day. And in case of hot weather or workouts, you must intake more fluid than your average water intake. 

Excessive physical Activity

Strenuous physical activity causes muscle pain and soreness. An example of this is having a sudden vigorous workout when you don’t really exercise regularly. Thus, doing warm-ups and stretches is a must before engaging in intense activity. It will prepare your muscles and joints and make them less prone to fatigue and aches.

Diseases, Hereditary Disorders, and Infections

Certain medical conditions can make a person more prone to muscle aches. Some of these are:

• Pneumonia
• Flu
• Arthritis
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Sciatica
• Scoliosis
• Whiplash
• Fibromyalgia 

Other Causes of Muscle Pain

Apart from the ones mentioned, there are other causes of muscle pain that can be rarer than others. These include:

• Falls
• Injuries from sports
• Twisting the body
• Lifting incorrectly
• Accidents
• Performing strenuous activities when getting older

Treating Muscle Pain Through Spinal Manipulation

Highly-trained and skilled chiropractors relieve muscle pain through spinal adjustment. Since they have the proper training to do the treatment, they can spot the root cause of the pain and make the necessary adjustments with your spine. Chiropractors know precisely where and how to put pressure on the affected area, alleviating muscle aches instantly.

With the use of an x-ray, a chiropractor will determine the location of the misaligned vertebrae that are causing your muscle pain. And if the spines’ temperature increases, a chiropractor uses a device to know if there’s inflammation. The misalignment causes mild inflammation if you are not in good health and your muscles are weak to support and keep the vertebrae in place. 

Therapies That Complement Spinal Manipulation

To speed up the healing process and make the treatment much more effective, chiropractors also use other therapies along with spinal manipulation. These include:

• Stretching or exercise
• Heat and cold therapy
• Electrical Stimulation
• Massage Therapy
• Hydromassage
• Acupuncture
• Rehabilitation Exercises
• Relaxation techniques
• Patient education

Ways to Prevent Sore Muscles

If you have sore muscles due to physical activity, stress, or tension, take the following steps to reduce the chances of experiencing muscle aches in the future.

• Do some stretching before and after partaking in some physical activities or workouts.
• Don’t forget to do a 5-minute warm-up and cool down when you have to exercise.
• Always drink plenty of water, especially on active days.
• Exercise regularly to encourage optimal muscle tone.
• If your work requires you to sit for a long time, try to stretch from time to time to avoid muscle strain or tension. 

Feeling Sore after the Treatment

Now, you may be wondering if spinal manipulation can make your muscles more tense and sore after the treatment. Yes, this is possible since it takes a lot of pressure and effort to make the necessary adjustments. However, there’s nothing to worry about the soreness sensation because it is a usual body reaction after such treatment. 

Nonetheless, in some cases, there are other underlying reasons why their muscles feel sore after the procedure. Some of these are the following:

Muscles Roused When Stimulated

The first and foremost step in your treatment is the adjustment your chiropractor makes. And it’s typical to feel sore when your spine has undergone correction because the chiropractor stimulates the sleeping or inactive muscles. 

Spinal manipulation causes pain or soreness to your muscles the same way. When you do the same exercise regularly, you repeatedly use the same muscles while the others are resting. When you change the workouts you’re doing, you’ll notice that some parts of your body are sore after exercises. Nonetheless, you can expect this soreness to go away after a few days.

Keeping Balance on the Over-stimulated Muscles

This one’s the opposite of what was just mentioned above. When the chiropractor stimulates the inhibit muscles, the overused muscles can rest. Therefore, you may not feel soreness in the over-stimulated muscles. However, the inactive ones may experience a bit of tension or soreness that won’t last for more than a day or two.

Your Body Is Adapting to New Alignments

Apart from your muscles, your entire body has to adapt to the new alignments resulting from the treatment. Hence, it’s natural to feel sore, especially around the spinal area.

Prolonged Misalignment

Some people only notice their misalignments once their spinal problems worsen. By this time, however, the spine and the muscles have already adapted to the incorrect position. Hence, after spinal manipulation, it’s almost certain for them to feel muscle soreness. The more prolonged the misalignment is, the more severe post-treatment soreness you will experience