Life is a beautiful journey, especially in Central Oregon! While we want to enjoy it to its fullest, it can be hindered by aches and pains that make even the simplest of tasks challenging. There’s nothing worse than having to cancel your plans to hike along the river trail, mountain bike down Phil’s Trail, or kayak in the high lakes all because of an ache! Many people – just like you – experience common discomforts such as pain back, knee pain, and headaches, which can significantly impact your quality of life. Let’s discuss possible causes of these common but disruptive aches, and get you back out there to enjoy the great outdoors with our tips and tricks for relieving pain and increasing mobility.
Back Pain
Back pain is a widespread ailment that affects people of all ages, making it a crucial concern for chiropractic care. The tricky part of back pain is that it’s so diverse.
Possible Causes
· Poor posture: Sitting or standing with poor posture for extended periods of time can strain the muscles and ligaments in the back. We see you, desk job troopers!
· Muscle strain: Lifting heavy objects or sudden, awkward movements can lead to muscle strain and subsequent pain.
· Spinal misalignments: Subluxations, or misalignments of the vertebrae, can create nerve irritation and result in back pain.
Tips and Tricks for Relief at Home:
· Gentle stretching exercises can help alleviate muscle tension and improve flexibility. Not to mention, stretching improves range of motion in joints, which can enhance athletic performance and reduce the risk of injuries. Regular stretching also helps to relieve muscle tension, improve circulation, and promote relaxation, which contributes to overall physical and mental well-being. A win-win all the way around.
· Applying heat or cold packs to the affected area can reduce inflammation and provide relief. Cold packs can be beneficial within the first 48 hours of injury or inflammation, while heat packs are a great tool for relieving chronic pain and noninflammatory conditions.
· Maintaining good posture and avoiding prolonged sitting or standing can prevent exacerbation. Try standing and walking around or gently stretching after you have been sitting for 30 minutes. Or, if you have been standing for a long time, stretching and taking a load off your feet every so often will help alleviate that pain as well. Getting an adjustable desk that provides you with the ability to sit or stand throughout the workday is also super handy.
How Chiropractic Care Helps
Chiropractic care focuses on identifying and correcting misalignments in the spine. Chiropractors use manual adjustments to realign the vertebrae, which can relieve pressure on nerves, reduce pesky inflammation, and promote natural healing. That’s our goal at Point Chiropractic—to help your body start healing itself again! Through regular adjustments tailored to your unique needs, you may find yourself experiencing not only improved spinal health but reduced back pain and enhanced overall well-being.
Knee Pain
Knee pain can be debilitating and is caused by a variety of factors. Knee pain makes it difficult to not only enjoy extracurricular activities such as biking, swimming, running, walking, or climbing, but also everyday activities like sweeping, mopping, and moving around your home or workplace.
Possible Causes
· Overuse or repetitive strain: Engaging in high-impact activities (oh hey, skiers and snowboarders!) or repetitive motions can lead to knee discomfort and pain.
· Muscle imbalances: Weak or tight muscles around the knee can put extra stress on the joint.
· Arthritis: Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis is also a possible cause of chronic knee pain and inflammation.
Tips and Tricks for Relief at Home
· Rest and avoid high-impact activities to allow your knee to heal.
· Gentle knee exercises, like leg raises and hamstring stretches, can strengthen the surrounding muscles. But remember, stretching shouldn’t hurt. Tension is OK, but pain is an indication that the stretch is too deep.
· Applying ice packs can reduce swelling and provide temporary relief.
How Chiropractic Care Helps
Did you know that chiropractors assess the alignment of the entire body, not just the spine? It’s true! Misalignments in the hips, pelvis, or lower back can contribute to knee pain. Through chiropractic adjustments and therapies, we can restore your proper alignment and balance, alleviating stress on the knee joint and reducing pain. Additionally, we can provide you with tailored exercises and lifestyle modifications that support your knee health and mobility.
Headaches
Headaches are one of the most common complaints worldwide and are often a common issue that we hear about in our office. It makes sense that if your spine has subluxations and your head is attached to your spine…you may be experiencing headaches due to misalignment. There are other possible causes, however.
· Tension and stress: Emotional or physical stress can lead to tension headaches, one of the most common types of headaches that Americans suffer.
· Poor posture: Slouching or straining the neck and shoulders can cause headaches.
· Cervicogenic headaches: Originating from issues in the neck and upper spine, these headaches can be chronic and intense. In other words, absolutely zero fun.
Tips and Tricks for Relief at Home
· Practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing and meditation to manage stress.
· Maintain proper posture while working and avoid prolonged screen time. Be sure to take breaks!
· Gently massage your neck and shoulders (or have a partner, spouse, massage therapist, or friend help you).
How Chiropractic Care Helps
Chiropractic care for headaches often involves cervical spine adjustments. By realigning the neck vertebrae, we can help relieve tension in the surrounding muscles and reduce pressure on nerves. This approach can lead to a significant reduction in the frequency and intensity of headaches. We can also help you find lifestyle adjustments that help prevent future headache occurrences.
Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain, like any other pain, can interfere with daily activities and is often attributed to one or more of the following causes:
· Rotator cuff injuries: Tears or strains in the rotator cuff muscles can result from repetitive motions or trauma. We see this often in athletes who endure repetitive exercises (like swimmers, baseball/softball players, volleyball players, etc.), or those who have been involved in vehicle crashes or other traumatic injuries.
· Frozen shoulder: Adhesive capsulitis causes stiffness and reduced range of motion in the shoulder joint.
· Poor posture: Rounded shoulders and a hunched back can strain the muscles and ligaments around the shoulder. Are you noticing a trend yet?
Tips and Tricks for Relief at Home:
· Apply a cold pack to the affected area for 15-20 minute segments to reduce inflammation.
· Perform light shoulder stretches to increase flexibility and oxygen flow to the area.
· Avoid activities that aggravate the pain and be sure to provide ample rest for your shoulder.
How Chiropractic Care Helps
Chiropractors can examine the shoulder joint and surrounding areas to identify misalignments or muscle imbalances. Through manual adjustments and soft tissue therapies, we can help restore proper shoulder mechanics, reduce inflammation, and improve your range of motion. We may also recommend certain strengthening exercises and modifications to promote long-term shoulder health and get you back out doing what you enjoy.
Neck Pain
Neck pain is another frequent flyer in our patient complaints when they visit us in the office. Again, there are several possible causes of neck pain, including but not limited to:
· You guessed it…poor posture! Frequently looking down at screens or slouching can put a hefty strain on your neck muscles.
· Whiplash: Sudden jerking movements, such as those experienced in car accidents, can cause neck pain.
· Degenerative conditions: Conditions like cervical spondylosis can lead to chronic neck pain and stiffness.
Tips and Tricks for Relief at Home
· Practice neck stretches and gentle range-of-motion exercises to reduce tension.
· Ensure your workstation is ergonomically designed to support proper neck alignment.
· Avoid carrying heavy bags on one shoulder, as it can strain your neck. We know you really want to carry all the groceries into your home in one fell swoop, but do be careful! And parents with babies and diaper bags and strollers galore, we see you, too!
How Chiropractic Care Helps
Chiropractic adjustments can realign the cervical spine, relieving pressure on nerves and reducing muscle tension. You may find us using safe and gentle manipulation techniques to address your neck pain and improve mobility. Additionally, we may recommend specific exercises and stretches to maintain the health of your neck and prevent future issues from arising.
Aches and pains are an inevitable part of life, but we believe they don’t have to dictate how you live. Understanding the possible causes of common discomforts like pain like knee, back, shoulder, and neck pain, as well as headaches, can empower you to take proactive measures to alleviate them. While home remedies can offer temporary relief, we hope to see you in our office so we can provide a comprehensive approach to address the root causes of these aches.
We are trained to identify misalignments and imbalances in the body, not only in the spine but also in other joints and muscles. By using adjustments and various therapies, chiropractic care helps restore proper alignment and function, leading to reduced pain, improved mobility, and enhanced overall welfare.
Embracing chiropractic care can be transformative in managing aches and pains and paving the way for a healthier, more active lifestyle. So, if you’re experiencing any of these common discomforts, consider visiting us at Point Chiropractic, and take the first step towards a pain-free future! We would love nothing more than to help get you back to enjoying all the adventures Central Oregon is beckoning for you to have.
