Increased nerve tension will cause your muscles to get more tense. So this extra muscle tension will pull your spinal bones out of alignment and cause poor posture. As well, extra muscle tension will make your spine stiff and less flexible.
When muscles get tight or hypertonic, the tension can pull on the bones that they are attached to and cause misalignments. Some common causes of chemical imbalance or stress include nutrient deficiencies (calcium, magnesium, potassium, etc.), smoking, alcohol, caffeine, processed foods, and other toxins.
Your spine may be out of line from just one of your vertebrae being pulled out of its place. This is called a spinal subluxation. An injury is often the reason for your vertebrae to be pulled out of line, but stress, inactivity, obesity, and poor posture are also reasons your spine may have alignment issues.
Aches and Pains. Chronic pain is one of the symptoms of a misaligned spine. Depending on where the misalignment is, whether it's higher up the spine or in the lumbar region, it could cause headaches and neck and back pain. The spinal cord is a conduit between the brain and the nerves throughout the body.
You can mobilise and stretch your own spine, but ´realigning´ (releasing the right joints in the right direction) your own spine is pretty much impossible to do. Chiropractors can't even do it to themselves.
In total, the average person requires anywhere between 18-24 adjustments over approximately 9-14 weeks to complete all three phases of chiropractic care (pain relief, stabilization, rehabilitation).
Just as spine misalignment happens over time, correcting it requires a long-term effort. You can start by being more aware of your spine alignment and making sure you stretch your body and get regular exercise. More severe cases of spinal issues may require medical care or surgery.
Misalignment is often corrected with spinal fusion surgery. During this procedure, the spine is fused in a correct position with screws and rods.
Most chiropractors can easily spot a subluxation, as body posture reflects any misalignment. For example, when lying down, one leg will appear shorter than the other. When standing up, the body may lean to one side, or the head may tilt to the left or right. One shoulder or hip may appear higher than the other.
Spinal subluxations, also called misalignments, are when vertebrae of the spine are out of place or not in proper alignment. The majority of spinal subluxation causes can fall into three categories, known as the three Ts: thoughts, traumas, and toxins.
Treatment that a chiropractor may offer includes: Adjustments: To gently realign joints to decrease pain and increase range of motion. Soft-tissue therapy: To relax tight muscles, relieve spasms and release tension in the connective tissue that surrounds each muscle (fascia).
Imbalance may be triggered by muscular overload and fatigue, as well as by weak or unstretched muscles. Sitting for long periods also causes permanent muscular imbalance. This is especially the case if you form a hunched back, so that the back muscles become long and weak, whereas the abdominal muscles become shorter.
Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to help increase blood flow to the brain. They can help increase the flow of cerebral spinal fluid as well. This can significantly help people suffering from neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis and epilepsy.
A misalignment at C0-C1-C2 can also come from sitting at a desk with poor posture, birth trauma, or falling out of a tree when you are a child. However, the most common way we see large trauma produced is from a concussion from either sports or work related injuries, or a car accident.
Having a misaligned spine can affect your general health and increase the risk of several chronic conditions. You may experience poor posture, decreased mobility, permanent joint deformities, respiratory problems, a reduced range of motion, and several other problems.
Physical therapists use spinal manipulation and other manual therapy techniques to get your spine back where it's supposed to be. These techniques, combined with exercise, help get your bones moving properly and your muscles functioning correctly. This may also help relieve pain related to the spinal misalignment.
How Long Does It Take? Unfortunately, posture correction isn't usually a quick process. But, depending on the degree of your poor posture, you could be standing up straighter in just a few weeks. If you're experiencing pain from poor posture, chiropractic care can provide relief in as little as one to three sessions.
Sometimes, a toxin release feels great because endorphins are released during a chiropractic adjustment.
An adjustment may provide some comfort. However, if the issue is recurring or not responding well (or fast) enough, a visit to your doctor may be indicated. There could be more serious or underlying conditions causing your back pain.
Those who seek adjustment to boost performance may find their adjustments last a month or more—or even a year. Your chiropractor will adjust your treatment plan as you progress. A typical plan might last three to six weeks, followed by a reevaluation.