As noted by an ergonomics expert from Posturion, sitting is not the healthiest thing out there. As we sit longer and longer.
Many women will find that chiropractic care can be very beneficial to their health. Combined with cardio activity it can help everything from reducing pain to improving postpartum recovery.
Below you’ll find some of the best benefits a chiropractor has to offer for women of all ages.
Common Health Issues That Plague Females
There are a handful of issues that specifically hurt females.
Piriformis Syndrome
Piriformis Syndrome is when the piriformis muscle (situated near the buttocks) starts randomly spazzing. This can be very uncomfortable and radiate pain up your spine. In addition to this, it could cause numbness in your legs.
Spinal Osteoarthritis
While this condition also affects men, it tends to be found more in females. Spinal osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage in your joints and vertebrae start to break down. Because of this, it can put pressure on the surrounding nerves. This can send shooting pain down your arms and legs. It can also result in severe back pain. Chiropractors treat conditions like if you suffer from osteoarthritis, chiropractic care can be especially helpful. While it might seem like intense movements would hurt your bones, it has the exact opposite effect. By implementing certain adjustments and stretches, it can reduce pain caused by this condition.
Tailbone Pain
This back problem might start in your tailbone, but it can spread throughout your back, arms, and legs. Most of the time it will leave you with a dull feeling in your lower back, but it can be due to a fracture, herniated disc, sciatica, or a cyst.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a frequent gynecological issue that many females suffer from. This condition, which is broken up into four stages, can cause severe pain and affect your pelvis. It’s caused by tissues that grow outside of the uterus rather than inside it. When endometriosis strikes, it can cause intense pain in your lower back and pelvic area.
Degenerative Spondylolisthesis
This medical condition puts stress on the bones in your lower spine and could cause a spinal disc to slip. It usually happens in your neck, but can also occur in your back. As your body ages, spinal vertebrae aren’t as strong and flexible as they once were. Sudden movements can put them in shock causing them to overreact to the movement, something which results in Degenerative Spondylolisthesis.
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder
Also known as TMJ, this disorder causes extreme pain in your jaw and its surrounding muscles. Most of the time females tend to have TMJ disorder more than males, especially if they’re between the ages of 20-40. This usually develops due to teeth clenching, stress, and jaw misalignment.
5 Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Women
Do chiropractors really help with common female health issues? The good news is yes, they do. Below are five benefits chiropractic care offers.
It Builds Up Your Bones
Regular chiropractic care can help to build up your bones. This is because it will stimulate osteoblasts (the cells in charge of making them). It can help to increase blood flow in these areas which can improve your flexibility.
If you suffer from osteoarthritis, chiropractic care can be especially helpful. While it might seem like intense movements would hurt your bones, it has the exact opposite effect. By implementing certain adjustments and stretches, it can reduce pain caused by this condition.
It Relieves Pain
Many older women often suffer from issues like arthritis and hypertension. These can cause unrelenting aches and pains. Chiropractic care works to release inflammation and build-up strength in your muscles and joints. Not only will this relieve pain, but it can improve your mobility.
One of the most helpful techniques used to stop pain is spinal mobilization. For this adjustment, a chiropractor will feel areas around your spine and apply pressure to them. This is done to help release any tension while encouraging better joint flexibility. It will also release endorphins which are natural painkillers.
Another common adjustment used for pain is the muscle energy technique. A chiropractor will move your body in various directions to encourage better blood flow. This can help to release muscle tension and increase blood circulation. Over time, you’ll find that your body will feel more relaxed.
It Reduces Cramps
During menstruation and PMS, women can suffer from extremely painful cramps. While medications can sometimes help with calming them, chiropractic care is a natural way to do so. To help with cramps, a chiropractor will perform a drop-table technique. This technique is a bit gentler than traditional adjustments and focuses more on your lower back and pelvis rather than your spine.
One study published saw that females who used chiropractic care alongside herbal supplements and non-acidic diets had less intense cramps than those who didn’t.
It Incorporates Massage Therapy
You’ll also find that chiropractic care often incorporates massage therapy into treatments. This comes with a variety of benefits like:
-
Reducing stress and tension
-
Boosting your immune system
-
Lowering your blood pressure
-
Releasing a large amount of serotonin
-
Regulating hormones
There are plenty of massage types that women can enjoy.
Swedish Massage
As one of the most commonly used types, a Swedish massage can reduce stress, heal muscle injuries, and even improve your blood circulation. A Swedish massage is done by using long strokes that incorporate kneading and tapping motions. While it applies pressure, it’s not as tough as a deep tissue massage.
Deep Tissue Massage
A deep tissue massage is one of the rougher options because it uses strong pressure on your bones, joints, and muscles. This is done to help reach the connective tissues inside them. A massage therapist will use deep gliding strokes on your body to awaken your blood circulation and release tension. Because it uses tough pressure, a deep tissue massage can unloosen tight muscles and reduce inflammation.
Aromatherapy Massage
Aromatherapy massage uses special oils and lotions to help you relax. These are often applied to your body by a massage therapist. This massage is designed to treat tense muscles that tend to occur in your neck, back, shoulders, legs, and arms. Because of this, an aromatherapy massage encourages both stress and anxiety relief as well as pain relief from conditions like fibromyalgia, arthritis, TMJ, and my o fascial pain syndrome.
Hot Stone Massage
As its name suggests, a hot stone massage places heated stones on your body. These basalt lava stones are placed on various areas (especially down your spine) to increase blood flow. As a massage therapist uses relaxing motions on your body, the stones will work to quickly release tense muscles around them. This will help to increase your metabolism while also soothing muscle stiffness.
Trigger Point Massage
A trigger point massage can be used to heal chronic pain caused by tension in your body’s trigger points. Trigger points are thick bands of skeletal muscles that wrap around your body and are usually the culprit behind common musculoskeletal issues. If you suffer from arthritis, TMJ, or migraines, this type of massage will be very helpful.
It Can Help With Pregnancy Concerns
If you’re pregnant or planning to be, chiropractic care can be beneficial to use. Pregnant women will find that a chiropractor will do adjustments to release pain around their backs, hips, and joints. These can also increase your pelvic motion. Most of the time, women find that consistent chiropractic care during their pregnancy helped them quicken their labor and recovery time.
A chiropractor’s services can also be very helpful during postpartum. Your chiropractor will adjust common areas that usually take a toll during birth, like your back and neck. These adjustments can invigorate your body and increase important nutrients flowing through it. This can calm any inflammation that might be evident. For best results, it’s ideal to get chiropractic adjustments within the first six weeks of giving birth.
In addition to this, chiropractic care can improve your fertility. While it doesn’t treat infertility, it can reduce stress and regulate hormones so that your body has better chances of becoming pregnant. It can also prepare your body for future pregnancies because it will keep your reproductive system healthy.
Chiropractic care isn’t just for fixing spine-related issues. This holistic form of medicine can be useful for women of all ages thanks to the numerous benefits it offers. Most of the time it won’t only fix health issues but prevent them.
References
About Dr. Wells
Dr. Brent Wells founded Better Health Chiropractic & Physical Rehab in 1998. He is currently leading 10,000 Alaskans to more active and pain-free lifestyles without drugs or invasive surgeries. His team consists of progressive and highly innovative chiropractors, physical therapists, and massage therapists in Anchorage and Juneau. Dr. Wells continues to further his education with ongoing studies in spine conditions, neurology, physical rehabilitation, biomechanics, occupational ergonomics, whiplash, and brain injury traumatology. He is also a member of the American Chiropractic Association and the American Academy of Spine Physicians.