A chiropractic adjustment is a practical maneuver used to correct subluxation of the vertebrae in the spine. There are two main ways that a chiropractic adjustment can help someone relieve muscle tension. It restores proper alignment and movement of the spine and also helps to instigate nerve impulses that cause muscles to relax. For example, muscle therapy relieves tension in soft tissues, making chiropractic adjustments more effective, since tight muscles can cause joint misalignment.
Chiropractic, in turn, supports muscle therapy. If the pain involves misalignment, adjustments can provide immediate relief. Soft tissue heals faster once joints are realigned. Chiropractic adjustments relax deep layers of soft tissue that can be difficult to feel, allowing muscle therapies to work better.
One way a chiropractor can help you deal with a muscle strain is through musculoskeletal manipulation. This effective technique lightly manipulates joints and tissues to reduce pain from a pulled muscle and release tight muscles, promoting mobility and accelerating your body's healing process. That means I use my hands to try to improve the movement of my spine. If I can improve joint mobility in a certain area (spine, neck, middle back, lower back, pelvis), I could reduce muscle tension.
It can also help with irritation of nerves traveling through the arm or leg, causing numbness or tingling, pain, or even changes in strength. Sometimes I also use other therapies, such as giving people exercise instructions or self-care recommendations. Myofascial release and trigger point work are “hands-on” therapies performed by your Doctor of Chiropractic. Your chiropractic doctor will use your hands to find areas of tension and tension in the affected muscles and then apply pressure until you feel the muscle release or relax.
