The Importance of Stretching in Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care helps with ailments that stem from misalignments in the spine. At-home care is critical to ensure an excellent long-term outcome. Stretching is one of the best ways to take care of your body between your chiropractic treatments.

Maintain Spinal Alignment

Tight muscles in the chest, shoulders, and back put pressure on your spinal column that may cause the misalignment to return after your treatments. Incorporating stretching with chiropractic care keeps the muscles loose to protect your vertebrae and other joints. Stretching also reduces the likelihood that you will use poor body mechanics to compensate for muscle groups’ tightness.

Reduce Stress

Slow, focused stretching is a great way to give yourself a break from the demands of modern life. When performed correctly, stretching increases blood flow and oxygen levels in your body. The result is that you feel more relaxed and energized. The best times to stretch is in the morning and mid-afternoon. These are the times of day when your muscles tend to be the tightest. When you carry stress in your body, it makes you feel tired and unfocused. Stretching also helps reduce your stress level.

Improve Flexibility and Range of Motion

After your alignment treatments, you may notice improved flexibility and range of motion. Combining stretching with your chiropractic care helps you maintain mobility and trains your muscles to work together properly. If you start to notice stiffness after your chiropractic appointment, that is a good indicator that you should do some stretching. Prevention is the best approach, so you should stretch one to two times per day. You should also stretch anytime that you notice your back and joints getting stiff. Stretching only takes a few minutes, but the benefits are long-lasting.

Alleviate Aches and Pains

The aches and pains that brought you to chiropractic care can be managed with a combination of treatments and stretching exercises. The movements that you use for your stretches elongate the muscles to remove any knots and tightness. Stretching also helps your joints maintain mobility. Performing some easy stretches each day will reduce the frequency and severity of your aches and pains to enhance the outcomes of your chiropractic treatments.

Originally published: https://reynaldoperezdc.com/the-importance-of-stretching-in-chiropractic-care/