Three Ways Chiropractors Help with Pain Relief

When most people think about chiropractic care, the first thing that comes to mind is body adjustments. All over the internet, in magazines and in books, chiropractors are best known for adjusting body joints to help patients lead a comfortable life. Notably, one of the significant benefits of chiropractic adjustments is pain relief. A professional chiropractor knows where pain receptors are located and does everything possible to make clients as comfortable as possible. However, many patients do not understand how chiropractors can relieve pain through body adjustments. This article highlights ways chiropractors can help patients manage pain.

Release Pinched Nerves

One of the most challenging types of pain to diagnose regards pinched nerves. Notably, a pinched nerve is compressed between surrounding tissues, such as bone or cartilage. The most common symptoms of a pinched nerve are tingling or burning sensations and chronic pain that radiates outwards from the affected area. It mostly happens along the spinal cord when a herniated disk slips from the vertebral column and presses against a nerve. Since all pain nerves converge at the spinal cord, it can be challenging to pinpoint the problem. For instance, a painful foot might originate from a pinched nerve, but it is the last place you can think of. A chiropractor can gently work the herniated disk back to its normal position through adjustments, releasing the affected disk. Usually, a patient feels immediate relief once the out-of-socket disk is restored.

Improve Range of Motion (ROM)

Painful ligaments can limit a joint's range of motion. If you do nothing, a joint gets used to the limited ROM and prevents you from performing routine activities. The reason is that ligaments continue to shrink, further limiting your range of motion. For instance, a frozen shoulder can prevent you from tucking your shirt or reaching for an item in the top drawer. Chiropractors know the best stretching exercises that help improve a joint's range of motion. Although the exercises might be painful, sustained chiropractic sessions eventually restore elasticity in the affected connective tissue.

Bracing/Taping

Joint and spinal manipulations are not all a chiropractor does when treating a patient. A professional chiropractor understands that a single session is not enough to remedy a problem, meaning that a patient might have to endure pain for some time. It is why chiropractors prefer to keep the affected joint relatively immobile to maintain recovery progress. Braces and kinesiology tapes are excellent tools that help support muscles and joints to ensure the healing process is smooth and as painless as possible. Besides, taping and bracing injured tissue prevents future injuries, going a long way in limiting pain.