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Move Better, Play Better: Improving Biomechanics for Athletes
Logan Georgeson, DC • 29 June 2023
Move better, play better.
Move better, feel better. Move better, age better. Move better, train better.
The list goes on!
Is it any wonder there are entire professions like chiropractic dedicated to helping ensure your body moves its best so it can function its best and you can feel its best?
That said… is it any wonder that every professional sports team now employs a chiropractor?
Or that even high school athletes are receiving chiropractic care?
Well, what about YOU?
Bottom Line:
As an athlete, you know that injuries can be a frustrating and even devastating part of the game.
Recovering from an injury can be mentally and physically challenging.
That’s why taking proactive steps to prevent injuries in the first place is key.
That’s why chiropractic care is so important for athletes - and that’s ALL athletes.
One essential aspect of chiropractic-based injury prevention is improving biomechanics.
In this post, we'll explore the importance of improving biomechanics for athletes and why, as an athlete, you should consider a biomechanics assessment in Sun Prairie.
Why it Matters:
So, what do we mean when we talk about biomechanics?
Biomechanics is the science of how your muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments work together to produce movement.
In short, think of biomechanics as the science of movement.
As you may have guessed, ensuring optimal biomechanics is particularly critical for meaningfully reducing your risk of injury.
Consider this.
Changes to the biomechanics in one of your body’s joints can lead to compensations in others, which can cause pain, put you at an increased risk for injury, and even speed up the aging process in the affected joints.
Yes, ensuring proper biomechanics is important!
Improving Biomechanics for Athletes
So, where do we start?
Developing a fitness plan that includes dynamic stretching, strength training, and cardiovascular exercise can help you maintain proper biomechanics and decrease your chance of injury.
Key aspects would involve making time to move through your body's full range of motion each day and perhaps alternating training different muscle groups every other day.
Whatever the specifics, the focus is on movement.
So, how do you know if your biomechanics are optimal?
That's where a biomechanics assessment in Sun Prairie comes in.
A biomechanics assessment is an essential part of every chiropractic evaluation.
Chiropractors are trained to carefully examine your biomechanics and movement patterns and to provide passive and active ways to improve them.
It’s important to keep in mind that no two people move the same, so having a functional movement assessment is critical if you're looking for ways to improve your own unique movement patterns.
That’s especially true when it comes to improving biomechanics for athletes.
Movement (biomechanics) assessments can help identify altered biomechanics before you have pain and discomfort.
By proactively addressing these issues, you may not only be able to reduce your risk of injury but also improve your athletic performance.
Biomechanics assessments are especially important for athletes who rely on specific movement patterns, such as runners or tennis players.
Improving biomechanics can also benefit athletes recovering from injuries.
Research has shown that correcting biomechanical issues can improve rehabilitation outcomes and reduce the likelihood of reinjury.
In fact, a study published in the Journal of Athletic Training found that correcting faulty movement patterns in athletes reduced their risk of reinjury.
Next Steps:
Improving your biomechanics is critical to reducing your risk of injury and improving your athletic performance.
And if you're a local athlete looking to optimize your movement patterns and reduce your risk of injury, consider a biomechanics assessment in Sun Prairie.
Our team can help you identify any issues and we’ll work with you to create a personalized plan designed to quickly and easily improve your specific biomechanics.
Contact us today to schedule your assessment and take the first step towards moving better and playing better!
Science Sources:
Preventing Sports Injuries. University of Rochester Medical Center. 2023. Does Maintained Spinal Manipulation Therapy Result in Better Long-Term Outcome? Spine. 2011.
Bottom Line: If you're dealing with chronic pain, now is the time to tackle it naturally. But how do you deal with chronic pain without using opioid pain medication? Are opioid alternatives for pain management actually effective? Allow us to answer that with a resounding YES! One of the problems with pain medications is that they only treat the symptoms - they aren't doing a thing to resolve the source of your pain. If you are looking for a long-term solution, the cause needs to be addressed. Altered biomechanics, or movement patterns, tend to be a common issue for many people dealing with chronic spine pain. Why It Matters: To get things moving on the path towards relief, we have found a lot of success with a plan that typically encourages a couple of core components. First, we incorporate whole body movement with daily exercise. It may seem impossible to get out and get active when you're dealing with chronic pain, but it may help you see some relief from your symptoms! For example, if you're dealing with chronic back pain, regular walks can help relieve the stiffness and soreness of back pain. Next, we add specific, targeted chiropractic adjustments. Chiropractors are an excellent resource for anyone who is dealing with chronic pain. New research has shown chiropractic care is at least as effective at relieving pain as many medications, without the risks or dangers associated with drugs. The likelihood of filling an opioid prescription is reduced by over 50% for people who see a chiropractor. Next Steps: You don't need to keep struggling with chronic pain. Researchers have found that chiropractic care and targeted active exercise can effectively address the cause of your pain to best reduce your symptoms. If you or someone you know has struggled with chronic pain, please reach out to us at our holistic pain management clinic in Sun Prairie, WI today. Our expert team is standing by to help provide you with options for relief that don't include the dangerous medications that have created the current opioid epidemic. Science Sources : Chiropractic for Treatment of Low Back Pain. JMPT. 2018. Understanding the Opioid Overdose Epidemic. CDC. 2022. Impact of Chiropractic on Use of Opioids. Pain Med. 2020.
Bottom Line: Opiates vs. opioids - while they come from different sources, they are similar in a very specific way. Both opioids and opiates have caused millions of people looking for pain relief to enter a cycle of addiction. And the truth is that many of the people who are currently addicted to opioids weren’t recreational drug users looking for their next high… They were people who were prescribed these drugs by their doctors to treat their chronic pain. Why it Matters: To understand more about how this addiction epidemic happened, it's helps to understand the differences between opioids and opiates. Opiates describe drugs derived from the flowering opium poppy plant. Morphine is an example of an opiate. These drugs have been linked to physical dependence, increased tolerance, and addiction. Opioids are synthetic or made in a lab. When opioid receptors in the brain become activated, they produce feelings of pleasure and pain (all opioid drugs act on these receptors). Some are up to 50 times more powerful than heroin. It goes without saying that these drugs are highly addictive and dangerous. Opioid drugs used to treat pain include oxycodone and hydrocodone. Oxycodone exhibits the highest risk of abuse and poses the most significant dangers. It affects the nervous system in the same way as heroin. Next Steps: Current medical guidelines no longer recommend the use of opioids for most spinal pain. If you're struggling with pain, movement-based care, like chiropractic, is often the best way to accelerate the healing process and put yourself in a position for long-term relief. Both the research and results we’ve seen at our drug-free pain management clinic in Sun Prairie don’t lie. Call us today if you want to explore a relief path that doesn't include medications. Science Sources : Chiropractic for Treatment of Low Back Pain. JMPT. 2018. Understanding the Opioid Overdose Epidemic. CDC. 2022.
Bottom Line: For decades, opioids were marketed as a "safer" alternative to treat chronic pain. And as the number of people seeking care for chronic pain began to rise, so did the number of people filling prescriptions for highly addictive opioids. If you’ve ever wondered “What is the opioid crisis?” - that’s the simple answer. However, what many don’t realize is that what we currently refer to as the opioid crisis started as a chronic pain epidemic. Why it Matters: Over the past few years, major healthcare agencies have recognized that non-pharmacological approaches should be the first line of care to manage chronic pain. The best way to combat the opioid crisis is to focus on non-pharmacological solutions to the chronic pain epidemic. And recent studies have indicated that there are more than a few reasons to be hopeful. These studies have shown that non-drug treatment options, such as chiropractic, can be very effective at helping people reduce the development and recurrence of chronic pain. Even study participants with severe chronic pain reported experiencing significant benefits from the chiropractic care they received. Next Steps: While we can't undo the damage that has been done, we can learn from the past. This recent and unprecedented shift to a primarily non-pharmacological based approach to pain management is a start. And if you’ve been looking for a pain chiropractor in Sun Prairie, look no further. Our practice is proud to partner with other healthcare providers who support a natural approach to pain management. We’ll work together to overcome your chronic pain without the dangerous side effects and addiction issues others have experienced with opioid medications. Science Sources: Prevalence of Chronic Low Back Pain. Rev Saude Publica. 2015. Chiropractic for Low-Back Pain. J Altern Complement Med. 2008.
Bottom Line: If you make it a habit to watch the news, you’ve probably wondered on more than one occasion “How did the opioid crisis start?” Well, the answer might surprise you. About 30 years ago, there was a fundamental shift in medicine regarding how pain was understood and treated. The number of people with chronic pain seemed to be rising, and it was thought that the options to address the pain weren't adequate. Why it Matters: As doctors paid more attention to assessing pain, they also paid more attention to treating pain. Enter opioids. Opioid medications began to be prescribed more and more frequently for chronic low back or neck pain. Surprisingly, up until then, opioids were only prescribed for severe pain after surgery or advanced-stage cancer. But that all changed in the early 1990’s. New opioids formulas were promoted as being less addictive, and physicians were encouraged to prescribe these drugs far more liberally than before, including for the care of chronic pain. Prescribing these drugs very quickly created and exposed a number of problems. Healthcare professionals noted how rapidly patients adapted to the drugs, meaning larger and larger doses had to be prescribed to sustain those promised pain suppressing effects as time went on. That, of course, indicated these drugs weren't very effective at addressing chronic pain. They provided short-term relief, but they seemed to become less useful for many people as time went on. What’s more, the euphoric feelings often associated with these drugs put it’s users at a high risk for addiction. Next Steps: Now, some 30-odd years later, we are witnessing an opioid crisis. If there is a silver lining to be found, we as a collective now realize that the answers and treatment of chronic pain are rarely found in a bottle. Many leading healthcare organizations are now recommending non-pharmacological approaches to treating chronic pain including chiropractic. If you would like to explore a drug-free approach to pain relief, schedule an appointment with us today. As the leading natural pain doctor in Sun Prairie, we have the tools and know how you’ve been looking for. Our doors are always open, and we’re here to help! Science Source: Understanding the Epidemic. CDC. 2021.
Bottom Line: Did you know that chiropractors and holistic chiropractors are one and the same? The term chiropractic comes from the Greek words cheir (hands) and praxis (practice). It literally means "done by hand," and chiropractic is among the most popular health treatments sought by those seeking holistic healthcare in Sun Prairie. Since the beginning, chiropractors have been focused on helping the body heal itself naturally without the use of prescription medications or invasive surgeries. In some ways, chiropractors were the world's first 'organic" health professionals! And while modern chiropractic began way back in 1895, many people still don’t exactly understand how chiropractic care works… or when it makes sense to see a chiropractor. Let’s start with the basics. Why it Matters: If you've been living with aches and pain, it's often connected to distorted movement patterns that affect your neuromusculoskeletal system - your brain, nerves, muscles, bones, joints, cartilage, tendons, etc. And those abnormal movement patterns can happen for a variety of reasons that range from long hours at a computer and repetitive stress to sudden injuries. Correcting those abnormal movement patterns with gentle, safe, effective, and non-invasive treatments is where chiropractors shine and why you shouldn’t hesitate to seek holistic healthcare in Sun Prairie from a chiropractor if you’re in pain. For many, a few targeted adjustments to the affected joints can help reset any distorted movement patterns which in turn can make a significant impact on their overall pain levels, mobility, and well-being. In one recent study, researchers observed a measurable improvement in the biomechanical and functional performance in low back pain patients immediately following adjustments. Participants were able to both move and complete tasks more efficiently and freely and with less pain. In yet another study, researchers found that chiropractic care was associated with significant improvements in health-related quality of life over time, especially in pain. Chiropractic Care is Holistic Healthcare It’s important to point out that chiropractors - aka, holistic chiropractors - follow a whole person approach. It’s not all about the adjustment. For example, chiropractors perform a comprehensive history and examination during your first appointment. This helps us determine what may be the result of any spinal issues and it also gives us the important information we need to advise you about simple lifestyle changes that have the potential to help you find lasting relief from other symptoms and boost the results of your care. Let’s take a moment to recap… ● Abnormal movement patterns, chronic stress, and an inflammatory diet can often cause aches and pains in your spine and joints. ● Our care plans are designed to help you reach your health goals as quickly as possible. ● Adjusting the joints of your body can both help to decrease your pain and increase your functional ability. Next Steps: Many of our patients made the decision to contact a holistic chiropractor because their health goals are focused on staying active and pain-free, naturally. If that sounds like you and you've been curious about your holistic healthcare options in Sun Prairie, call us today! Chiropractors use several safe, non-invasive, non-pharmacological treatments including lifestyle education, adjustments, massage, and physical therapy exercises to help you get and stay well. And you can rest assured that our care plan recommendations will be based on both our findings and your personal health goals. We work together with you, from identifying and addressing the cause of your symptoms to finding practical, natural long-term resolutions. We’re here for you, so don’t hesitate to give us a call to get started today! Science Source : Does Manual Therapy Affect Biomechanical Outcomes? Chiropr Man Therapies. 2020. Quality of Life in Chiropractic Patients with Low Back or Neck Pain. Spine. 2019.
Bottom Line: Your body is built to move and the benefits of movement for your body are immeasurable. Every spinal disc and every individual joint was designed to help you sit, stand, run, and do everything in between. That's a big part of why we provide functional movement tests in Sun Prairie - to help ensure every part of your body is moving the way it was designed to so you can feel and function your best for as long as possible. Really, think about it... Your discs are soft enough to allow you to flex and bend in every direction. Your facet joints slide and glide in concert with one another so you can turn, twist, and extend. Your vertebrae are connected by ligaments that support you as your push and pull. Maintaining all those moving parts is important. Your body is an incredibly strong, complex, and resilient system that both powers and is itself powered by movement and the benefits of movement. In other words, motion is life and movement is medicine. Here’s why. Why it Matters: Recent research has given us a glimpse at just how important movement is in our life. For instance, it’s been observed that one of the benefits of movement of the spine is that it can stimulate and accelerate the body’s healing process, yet another reason that scheduling a functional movement test in [your city / town, neighborhood] is so important if you're not moving as well as you once did. In fact, movement is so crucial to the body’s healing process that even people who have spine surgery are encouraged to get up and move as quickly as possible after surgery! Here’s how it all breaks down: ● All of the bones, muscles, ligaments, and joints of your spine are designed to support daily movement. ● Blood flow, strength, and flexibility are all enhanced through movement. ● Movement of the individual segments of your spine can also affect how you heal. It’s been said, "you don't get old then stiff, you get stiff then old." Take it from us, that’s the truth! Functional Movement Tests, Chiropractic Care, and the Benefits of Movement As you may have guessed, as chiropractors we believe in the innate ability of the body to heal itself and the very real benefits of movement, so we’ve been trained to work with just about every joint in your body in addition to those in the spine. Adjustments are just one of the non-invasive tools we use to help get them back to moving at their best - limb by limb, joint by joint. One of the top benefits of spinal adjustments is that they can help dramatically reduce your daily aches and pains - and that’s especially important since pain is the #1 obstacle that keeps many people from enjoying their favorite activities. Another way adjustments can help improve your quality of life involves resetting any faulty movement patterns so that your body is working together and moving well as a whole, and that's why we perform functional movement tests in our Sun Prairie clinic. Remember, move better, feel better! In fact, in several studies, researchers observed that people receiving spinal adjustments reported a higher quality of life in general than those who weren’t - less pain, less down days. To take that a step further, sport-specific performance improvements are yet another one of the fantastic benefits of movement powered by spinal adjustments. Achieving optimal flexibility, biomechanics, range of motion, and movement are all reasons why many leading athletes get adjusted consistently as part of their training. Whatever you do, chiropractic care can help you feel your best so you can do what you need to do and do what you love to do reliably for years to come. Next Steps: We believe that encouraging healthy movement and regular physical activity is a big part of our job as your wellness team. So, if you have any questions about getting a functional movement test in Sun Prairie or other stretches, exercises, and different ways to proactively stay healthy, don’t hesitate to ask! And be sure to follow us on social media for even more great wellness tips daily. We want to help you leverage the benefits of movement - whether you’re young or young at heart - so you can keep your spine and body feeling, moving, and functioning at their best for as long as possible. We also encourage you to stay proactive with your health by making sure you have your next appointment scheduled. And if it’s your first time visiting our practice, know that from questions to functional movement tests in Sun Prairie to treatment, we’ll be here to help you every step of the way. Science Source: Effectiveness of Nonsurgical Treatment with Stenosis. JAMA Netw Open. 2019.
Bottom Line: Odds are, you've pondered on the brain-body connection a time or two here and there, and for good reason. Every thought and movement in your life occurs through your brain or spinal cord - commonly referred to as our central nervous system. The spinal cord both carries nerve signals from the brain to other parts of the body and receives sensory input from the body and transmits that information back to the brain. Your spinal column is the armor that protects your spinal cord as it travels down through your body and branches off into the nerves that power that brain-body connection. Every moment, millions (literally, millions!) of messages are moving along your spinal cord to maintain the necessary balance between your brain and body you need to function. Needless to say, ensuring your spine as a whole is feeling and functioning at its best is important, and we're here to help if you're looking for holistic joint pain treatment in Sun Prairie. And here's something you may not know... Recent research has shown that our hands-on chiropractic adjustments can positively impact the chemistry of your brain! Read on to learn more. Why it Matters: Yes, chiropractic adjustments have the potential to alter the levels of different biochemical pain markers in your brain for the better. So, what are biochemical pain markers? When we talk about biochemical pain markers, we’re talking about chemical substances that can influence your perception of pain. For example, let’s look at neurotensin and oxytocin in this brain-body connection. Neurotensin is associated with pain blocking as well as the regulation of dopamine, and, similarly, oxytocin is associated with both a decreased sensitivity to pain and an improved mood. Increased levels of each of these chemical messengers in the body can promote an overall reduction in pain. It’s no wonder chiropractic adjustments are recommended first by many local healthcare professionals for neck, back, and joint pain treatment in Sun Prairie. Consider what we know… ● Your brain and body are in constant communication through your central and peripheral nervous systems. ● Increased levels of neurotensin, oxytocin, and other similar chemical substances in the body can promote an overall reduction in pain. ● Chiropractic adjustments to your neck or back have been connected to immediate increased levels of those same pain-relieving substances. Chiropractic, the Brain-Body Connection, and Joint Pain Treatment In recent studies, researchers observed both decreased cortisol levels and improved motor control following chiropractic adjustments (spinal manipulative therapy). What’s more, other recent studies have also shown that chiropractic adjustments can be more effective than spinal injections for treating disc issues. In short, for those seeking pain relief, a strong case exists for chiropractic. The results we discussed here are a big part of why many top medical organizations now operate under a conservative care first model for the treatment of chronic pain. Next Steps: Over the past 100 years, scientists, doctors, and other healthcare professionals have observed and learned a lot about the brain-body connection. In our practice, we’ve seen first-hand just how chiropractic care can strengthen the connection between your brain and body, and we've helped many people seeking non-invasive joint pain treatment in Sun Prairie feel and function better. And considering that the spinal cord can send information to your brain at a rate of over 250 mph, it’s no surprise that those who walk through our doors leave with less stress and less pain after just a few minutes of adjusting. Aging, healing, and your entire life experience happen through a constant concert of communication and coordination between your brain and body. And keeping that all-important organ under your hat and everything underneath functioning at their best can help you maintain an optimal brain-body connection. So, if you've had a hard time staying active due to pain, know that we specialize in holistic, gentle joint pain treatment in Sun Prairie, and we're here to help. We invite you to schedule an evaluation with our compassionate team of experts today. Together, let's get you on the road to lasting pain relief! Science Source : Pain Perception After Spinal Manipulation. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2014. Effects of Spine Manipulation on Pain. J Man Manip Ther. 2019. Spinal Cord Anatomy. Physiopedia. 2022.
Bottom Line: Disc herniations, bulges, protrusions, and extrusions (oh my!) are some of the most common reasons people visit a chiropractor. In fact, most people see a chiropractor not just because they have lower back disc issues but because such conditions have caused a significant impact on their quality of life. The good news? You can get natural, non-invasive treatment for a herniated disc in Sun Prairie. The research doesn't lie and backs up what we’ve witnessed for years - chiropractic care provides outstanding results for people with lower back disc issues. Why it Matters: A spinal disc has a soft, jellylike center encased in a tougher, rubbery exterior - referred to as the nucleus and annulus, respectively. A herniated (or slipped or ruptured) disc happens when some of the nucleus pushes its way through the annulus, and while this can occur in any part of the spine, herniated discs are most often found in or near the low back. And it may surprise you to know that no two patients who've come to us seeking treatment for a herniated disc in Sun Prairie are alike. In some cases, those with lower back disc issues have no symptoms. In other cases where a patient has been living with a herniated disc or other lumbar disc condition, they report pain, numbness, or weakness in other parts of the body. The good news is that these symptoms tend to improve over time, and invasive intervention is not required in most cases. That’s because your body has an incredible ability to heal without drugs or surgery - yes, even from disc herniations! In fact, movement can be thought of as medicine for the body. That's why our team specializes in natural treatment for disc herniations and more in Sun Prairie. We know that there are specific chiropractic techniques that can positively influence the pressure on your spinal discs. Chiropractic Care as a Treatment for Herniated Discs and Lower Back Disc Issues Recent studies have also shown that conservative treatment options like chiropractic adjustments can be more effective than spinal injections for treating disc issues. Still more studies have shown that movement, reducing intra-discal stress, and opening up the channels your nerves pass through can improve how you feel and help accelerate the healing process. Consider that disc herniation is most often the result of a gradual, aging-related wear and tear. As we age, our discs become less flexible and more prone to dysfunction - oftentimes, most people can't pinpoint the cause of their herniated disc. Sometimes, lifting a heavy object with your back rather than from your legs can lead to a herniated disc; the same can happen if you don’t have the support you need to turn while lifting said object. It’s easy to see why maintaining disc health is so important. Making time for regular exercise, making it a point to maintain good posture, and getting screened and adjusted regularly by your favorite chiropractor are so important to ensuring the health of your spinal discs. ● Exercise helps stretch and strengthen the muscles that stabilize and support the spine. ● Practicing proper posture also helps reduce excess pressure on your spinal discs. ● Chiropractic adjustments help maintain proper motion of the spine as a whole. Remember, your body has an incredible ability to heal itself, and that’s what we’re here to help you with, especially if you've been looking for an alternative or more holistic treatment for a disc herniation in Sun Prairie. Next Steps: We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it again - chiropractic care provides outstanding results for people with lower back disc issues. As you just read, recent studies have shown that people with disc herniations have reported experiencing better, longer-lasting pain relief with chiropractic adjustments versus injections. So, know that if you have received an MRI that indicates you might be living with some lower back disc issues, it certainly does NOT automatically mean that surgery or injections are your only options. Give us a call today to discover a natural way to find relief. Our doors are open, we specialize in natural, non-invasive treatment for herniated discs in Sun Prairie, and we’re here to help! Science Source : Herniated Disk. Mayo Clinic. 2022. Herniation Patients Treated with Spinal Therapy. JMPT. 2013.
Bottom Line: If you've had neck or back pain that you could pinpoint with your finger or felt a sharp pain in your back when moving, the cause may have been some sort of dysfunction with one or more of the facet joints (often the lumbar facet joints) of your spine. So, what are the facet joints? Think of these joints as the “knuckles” of your spine that glide, slide, and stabilize. They both add flexibility to your spine so you’re able to bend and twist your back and also help to keep you from “over doing” any of those motions (i.e., hyperextending or hyper flexing). Needless to say, ensuring your facet joints are functioning at their best is important to making sure you're able to move freely, and if you think you might need facet joint pain treatment in Sun Prairie, you've come to the right place! Here’s what you should know. Why it Matters: As we age, our spinal discs also age, and it’s our facet joints - often our lumbar facet joints - that take on the extra load. And, as you may have guessed, this excess stress and pressure can wear them down. This can lead to the development of adhesions, bone spurs, and pain that can all limit our ability to move freely. The good news? Targeted spinal adjustments can help break up adhesions in and around your lumbar facet joints, cervical facet joints, and the other joints in your spine to help reduce pain and restore proper motion. That's why our team specializes in facet joint pain treatment in Sun Prairie. To recap, here’s what we know… ● The facet joints of your spine slide and glide to allow you to bend and twist your body. ● As we age, adhesions can develop in our facet joints that restrict how well we move. ● Adjustments help break up adhesions surrounding the facets so you can once again move freely and with less pain. Chiropractic Care for Lumbar Facet Joint Pain Treatment There’s a wide range of research supporting the use of chiropractic care for the management of adhesions and pain related to the lumbar facet joints and understanding the results of those studies can help you decide if facet joint pain treatment in Sun Prairie may be right for you. For your reference, here’s some basic terminology you’ll find helpful when reviewing any such studies: ● The facet joints are also referred to as “Z” (zygapophyseal) joints. ● Chiropractic care / adjustments is also referred to as SMT (spinal manipulative therapy). ● The term “gapping” refers to the physical manipulation or mobilization of the joints. In one recent study, researchers set out to understand the effects spinal manipulative therapy and specifically gapping of the “Z” joints can have on the adhesions and pain in the lower back. In other words, they wanted to understand the effects chiropractic adjustments can have on adhesions surrounding the lumbar facet joints and any related low back pain to help evaluate its effectiveness as a facet joint pain treatment option. And as it turns out, they did in fact observe that study participants reported both a reduction in pain and a reduction in restricted movement after receiving chiropractic care. We've observed the same in those patients receiving facet joint pain treatment in Sun Prairie at our clinic. Such results demonstrate why conservative care like chiropractic is recommended as first-line therapy to treat low back and pain related to the facet joints. Next Steps: The facet joints of your spine - whether we’re talking about the cervical facet joints or lumbar facet joints - crave movement. Movement is medicine, after all! Movement helps the facet joints stay healthy and may even help slow down the effects of aging. Spinal adjustments have been shown to reduce adhesions in these joints and others so you can move more freely and with less pain. When you move better, you feel better, and we're proud to be a part of the healthcare team that helps you stay active. So, if you’ve been living with back pain and you're nearby, know we're here to provide the best facet joint pain treatment in Sun Prairie, and our compassionate team is just a phone call away! 608-318-2713 Science Source : Facet Joints. Physiopedia. 2022. Joint Changes Following Spinal Manipulation. JMPT. 2013.
The Bottom Line Few things can ruin your day as much as a headache. Relieving migraine headaches in particular can feel impossible. They can seemingly appear out of nowhere, though they may hint at their arrival with two other heavy hitters: visual discomfort and nausea. Whatever the symptoms, a migraine is one visitor you don't want sticking around. Why it Matters Take it from the leading chiropractic migraine specialist in Sun Prairie - knowing when a migraine is starting and understanding what matters when it comes to preventing and relieving migraine headaches is critical to improving your quality of life. Let's take a look at the four phases of a migraine headache. Four Phases of Migraine There are typically four phases of a migraine that many sufferers will experience: Premonitory This phase is usually the warning that a migraine is coming on. Many people will experience mood swings, neck stiffness, and constipation. Aura About 1 in 4 people who suffer from migraines will get an aura. Migraine sufferers often report visual or sensory auras in the minutes before the actual headache. Visual auras can result in flashing lights and blurred vision, whereas sensory auras affect speech and the ability to think clearly. Vision problems usually start 20 minutes to an hour before the headache. Even if you don't get an aura, the headache itself may cause vision trouble. Headache A migraine headache can be moderate or severe and is likely to occur on only one side of the head. Migraine sufferers will notice that their headaches worsen with physical activity, so rest is critical.. Postdrome The final phase in the migraine cycle is the postdrome. This occurs once the headache ends and leaves the afflicted person feeling exhausted. Treatment Options for Relieving Migraine Headaches Many migraine headache sufferers do not receive effective care. For example, in the United States of America and the United Kingdom, it's estimated that only half of chronic migraine sufferers seek the help of a healthcare professional, despite the often significantly disruptive symptoms. These include: ● Throbbing headaches of moderate to severe intensity on one side of the head. ● The appearance of nausea and vision changes. ● Recurring episodes can last anywhere from hours to days. Most are solely reliant on over-the-counter medications even though there are no surefire options that exist for relieving migraine headaches. Similarly, it's estimated that half of the people who experience chronic or occasional headaches will fall back on attempting to self-treat with over-the-counter pain medications despite the increased risk of experiencing rebound headaches that can happen as a result of overuse. When it comes to migraines, this risk here is associated most with aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine combinations. Of course, based on the symptoms and stages characteristic of most migraines, it's easy to see why many people aren't aware that there are non-pharmacological ways to manage their attacks. Many of our local migraine patients who come in often relay this as a reason they waited so long to find a chiropractic migraine specialist in Sun Prairie. Trust us, when the first time the headache comes back is reason enough to see a healthcare professional. Just like with cervicogenic and tension headaches, it is possible to lessen the frequency, intensity, and severity of your migraines with a combination of lifestyle changes and chiropractic care. While the cause of migraines is unclear, there are specific triggers that are often attributed to their onset. Knowing what those triggers are and making proactive changes to any daily habits that may be associated with those triggers is crucially important to finding lasting relief from migraine headaches. And, in one recent study, researchers observed a significant reduction in migraine days for those participants receiving chiropractic care. Next Steps The good news is that you can start effectively relieving migraine headaches by being proactive with your daily habits. You know now that making time for periodic chiropractic care is an important step in finding relief from migraine pain, so don't skip that next (or first!) adjustment. If you're looking for a chiropractic migraine specialist in Sun Prairie, our doors are open and we're ready to help you find relief! What about those triggers we mentioned? Here are some of the most common: ● Consumption of alcoholic or caffeinated drinks and tobacco ● Periods of stress ● Exposure to intense lights or smells ● Periods of intense physical exertion ● Changes to sleeping or eating habits ● Certain medications ● Consumption of aged, salty, or processed foods and certain food additives Migraine sufferers do well with preventive measures such as diet changes or taking steps to reduce stress. If you need help determining which triggers are contributing to your headaches, don't hesitate to ask us during your next appointment. To ensure you're on the right path and headed toward lasting relief from your migraines, it's wise to connect with a healthcare professional. “Doctor Google” isn't really a doctor after all! Our compassionate team has personally dealt with our own share of migraine headaches, and we're here for you! From lifestyle optimization advice to chiropractic adjustments and beyond, let us help you put those migraines in the rear view mirror. Science Sources Chiropractic Therapy for Migraine. Eur J Neurol. 2017. Headache Disorders. WHO. 2016. What is a Migraine? Web MD. 2020.
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