Muscle pain can be caused by a number of factors. The most common causes of short-term or long-term muscular pain include stress, tension, overuse, and injury. The pain is usually isolated, affecting only one muscle group. If someone pushes oneself too hard in the gym, for example, the thigh muscles may become inflamed, resulting in pain and restricted mobility.
Sports and exercise are frequently the sources of unexpected damage or overuse injuries. However, high-impact activities are not the only ones to blame. If you have improper posture, even sitting still can cause agonizing back and neck pain.
Various than injury or overuse, there are other reasons for muscular pain. Systemic muscle pain, for example, is more likely to be the result of a sickness, infection, or a side effect of some medications.
Muscle pain and stiffness are caused by inflammation, regardless of the mechanism of injury. Inflammation is a necessary aspect of the healing process. Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, can lead to a slew of other health problems if left untreated.
In many circumstances, such as a sports injury or a fall, the origin of trauma is obvious. When contemplating chiropractic care for muscular pain, it is critical to rule out any underlying causes.
What Role Does Spinal Misalignment Play in Muscle Pain?
A misalignment in the spine is frequently the primary cause of muscular pain or at least a major contributing component. Minor abnormalities in the spine can cause severe pain elsewhere in the body. But why is that?
The bones are the framework that supports the body and its muscles, without which we would be immobile. The ability of these muscles to work properly and efficiently is dependent on the proper alignment of these bones, particularly the spine. If you cut the body in half down the middle, the right and left sides of the skeleton and musculature should be mirror images of each other, with everything precisely aligned.
When the spine is out of alignment, the appropriate muscle groups either employ more or less to compensate. When muscles are engaged unequally, the spine is pulled out of position, exacerbating the problem. When a body with spinal misalignments is divided in half, there will be variances in hip and shoulder height from the right to the left side, as well as one hip or shoulder being set farther forward than the other.
To preserve normal body motion, the connective tissues that support the afflicted bones and muscles will shorten or be put under increased strain. This additional stress and tension irritate these tissues, resulting in localized inflammation and discomfort, and muscular stiffness.
Minor misalignments can have a domino effect, causing significant pain and increasing your risk of injury. Seeking chiropractic treatment for muscle discomfort can aid in the restoration of normal alignment and the reduction or elimination of pain.
How Do I Know If My Spine Is Misaligned?
The majority of people have some degree of spinal misalignment. These misalignment can occur at birth and worsen with age if not rectified. These misalignment can cause the following problems:
- Bone fractures or deterioration, particularly in the spine
- Reduced range of motion.
- Uncomfortable while sitting, standing, or sleeping.
- Fatigue
- Headaches that are frequent and chronic
- Illness occurs frequently.
- Stiffness of the joints
- Mobility loss
- Hand or foot numbness or tingling
- Neck, lower back, hip, or knee pain might be acute or chronic.
- Permanent joint and bone malformations
- Respiratory problems
- Hunched or slouched stance
- Sciatica
- Uneven wear on your shoes’ soles
If you experience any of these symptoms, you may have a spinal misalignment and should speak with a licensed physician to see if chiropractic therapy for muscular pain might be beneficial.
What Can a Chiropractor Do to Help Muscle Pain?
Chiropractic medicine is an integrative regenerative medicine system that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular disorders through the manual adjustment and/or manipulation of the spine. The afflicted muscles can begin to mend by correcting the spine and restoring proper alignment to the body. However, chiropractic treatment for muscular discomfort does not only focus on improving your bones’ alignment.
At Primary Health Clinic Chiropractic, we treat the entire patient. We understand that nutrition, exercise, and your family and medical history all play a role in muscular discomfort. By reviewing these characteristics, your chiropractor can establish what is causing your pain and prescribe modifications to your lifestyle to compensate.
Alternative Therapies
A chiropractor may also recommend additional types of pain management and treatment to help you recover. Some of these treatments could include:
Cold therapy, also known as cryotherapy, uses ice packs or ice baths to reduce swelling and inflammation in injured muscles.
Heat Therapy – This therapy uses heat to increase blood flow and oxygenation in the damaged muscles. Increased blood flow to the injured area, particularly when combined with physical therapy, can assist to increase range of motion, reducing stiffness, and accelerate recovery.
Electrical Stimulation – This therapy includes transmitting electrical impulses via specific muscle areas to facilitate medicine transfer without injections (iontophoresis) or to relieve pain (TENS, H-Wave). These treatments are usually reserved for muscle groups that are near the skin.
Ultrasound Therapy – This therapy employs ultrasound waves to provide heat and energy to deep tissues in order to alleviate pain and accelerate recovery. Phonophoresis is a technique that combines ultrasonic waves with topical drugs to deliver pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals deep within the muscle without the use of injections.
Kinesio taping is a technique that involves deliberately applying strips of tape along muscle groups to relieve pressure points and minimize pain.
Massage – Myofascial release and trigger point therapy are two types of massage therapy that target pressure points and reduce stress and strain on the afflicted muscles and connective tissues.
Physical therapy may be required to restore range of motion and strength to supporting muscle groups in order to maintain optimal spinal alignment.
Muscle Pain and Chiropractic Care
Some of these approaches may be more appropriate than others, depending on your complaint and the underlying reason for your pain, and can be reviewed with your chiropractor. Consultation with a chiropractor is the best thing you can do for your problem.
Our staff is ready to talk about your suffering and discover a solution that works for you. Nobody should have to endure continual suffering. Take control of your life right now.
Call Primary Health Clinic Chiropractic at (703) 354-8111 to talk with one of our qualified physicians about chiropractic care for muscular pain now!