In our busy lives, stress often becomes a constant companion, affecting us in various ways. It’s important to understand how ongoing stress, whether physical, emotional, or chemical, can impact our health. 

Over a long enough time frame, with these stressors, spine and joint distress are unavoidable.

This blog explores how chiropractic care can help alleviate the effects of stress on our neuromusculoskeletal system, including its positive impact on the nervous system.

The Impact of Stress

Stress can take many forms and have wide-ranging effects on our well-being, including leading to chronic inflammatory conditions such as fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and more. 

  • Physical stress, such as repeated patterns and movements, can lead to poor posture and reduced mobility. There can also be specific traumatic events, such as a difficult birth, fall, or motor accident.
  • Emotional stress, like habitual worry, anxiety, or tension in your career or family, can impact both our mental and physical health.
  • Chemical stressors, often from environmental toxins, poor nutrition, or medications, disrupt our body’s natural balance and ability to adapt. This includes stress hormones like Cortisol, which increases inflammation.

A study published in the “Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics” involving 138 patients attending 10 chiropractic clinics found that over 30% considered themselves moderately to severely stressed. 

More than 50% believed stress had a moderate or greater impact on their current health issues. Surprisingly, 71% of these patients felt that including stress management strategies in their chiropractic care would be beneficial. Additionally, 44% expressed interest in self-development programs to improve their stress management skills.

Chiropractic Care: A Path to Relief

Physical Stress Release

Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive approach to addressing the neuromusculoskeletal effects of physical stress.

Through gentle adjustments, I move and stimulate the spine towards its optimal position to support and protect the central nervous system. Being in alignment ensures less nerve irritation and dysfunction from inflammation.

Enhanced nervous system function restores communication and promotes overall physical well-being as the body is better able to adapt to stress and heal from physical traumas.

Improved posture can lead to reduced muscle tension and pain, allowing for enhanced mobility. 

Emotional Stress Relief

Our nervous system plays a crucial role in managing emotional stress.

Chiropractic adjustments support a clear and balanced nervous system, which helps regulate mood and stress responses, contributing to emotional well-being.

Reduced emotional stress can lead to an improved overall sense of health and happiness, and more ease in making other healthy lifestyle choices. 

Chiropractic care also reduces the postures that become associated with a low state of mental health, such as hunched shoulders and a forward head posture. When we reduce the subluxations, a more confident posture often follows.

Chemical Stress Reduction

Chiropractic care aids the body in dealing with chemical stress in several ways.

First, a subluxation can result from chemical stressors as the body can no longer adapt to them. By removing the subluxation, we reduce the trickle-down effects of chemical stress. 

Second, detoxification processes in the body are facilitated by a well-functioning nervous system. Improved nerve function enhances the body’s ability to eliminate toxins and maintain a balanced chemical state. This includes better digestion and elimination.

Third, better chemical balance promotes overall health and can help reduce inflammation.

The Vital Role of the Nervous System

Your nervous system is like the conductor of an orchestra.

It controls every function of your body, from breathing to digestion. A well-functioning nervous system ensures efficient communication between your body’s systems.

Chiropractic adjustments aren’t just about making your joints feel better or improving mobility. Because we work with removing interference in the nervous system, we are helping your body perform at its best.

Real Stories of Success: F. Portelli’s Testimonial

“Struck with a mystery illness a couple of years ago, it’s been a long slog for me health-wise. My inability to sleep led my doctor to prescribe sleeping pills. 

“Further, since getting sick, I just don’t have the energy I once had, and so found myself slouching further at work at the computer. I started feeling back and shoulder tightness. 

“At my wit’s end, I was on the lookout for a chiropractor to see if s/he could do something. I found this place on Facebook, of all places!

“Using a combination of x-rays, scans, and expertise, my situation was explained to me clearly. I was not promised any miracles, just the possibility of progressive improvement. 

“I was given instructions to come three times a week, which I did. I was told I needed to use a Denneroll pillow to correct my thoracic issues, which I did. 

“Within a couple of months, I felt my energy and mood increasing, my bowel movements have normalized (which is weird and TMI), my back and shoulder (and posture) have remarkably improved, I’ve been able to decrease the dosage for the sleeping pills (because I’m sleeping way better) to where I no longer need them, and other issues have diminished. 

“I’m now on one appointment a week and feel so much better having gone here. And the doctor and staff are approachable, affable, and easy to talk to.”

Taking Action for a Healthier You

Don’t let stress hold you back. Reach out to us today to schedule your chiropractic consultation and discuss how we can help you lead a healthier, stress-free life.

Ready to have your nervous system function checked? Call 416-967-4466 for an appointment at our midtown Toronto office, or schedule online here: https://bookedin.com/book/annex-family-chiropractic 

 

You may also be interested in: Unblocking the Nerve Pathways to Better Digestion: How Chiropractic Care Can Make a Difference

 

References:

Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics” involving 138 patients attending 10 chiropractic clinics https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0161475499700850