29 February 2016

The Lesser Known Causes of Subluxations

When it comes to the physical causes of subluxations, most people only think of accidents or falls.  However, I've found the following causes to be oftentimes even more hazardous to your spine, nervous system, and overall health:

1. Surgical trauma:  When a person is under general anaesthesia, their muscular system is no longer protecting the spine. Surgery often places people is odd positions and in many cases are quite prolonged.  Both instances prove to be extremetly traumatic on the spine and I've seen many people develop strange and sometimes severe problems after surgery.  I believe that surgical trauma can be even worse than injuries sustained in car accidents, simply because your mind is not able to protect the integrity of your spine and nervous system.  Chiropractic care should be essential especially following major surgery.

2. Driving on bumpy roads:  While working in the Limpopo Province, I came across several people who were diagnosed with "bakkie neck," by orthopaedic surgeons, resulting from regular driving on bumpy, gravel roads in bakkies. The minor trauma over the years can lead to early degeneration and if the spine is not balanced and functioning properly, can lead to severe neurological symptoms.  So while spending time in the bush viewing our wildlife friends is relaxing and energizing, be sure to have your spine checked and adjusted afterwards.

3. Airplane trips: Sitting on an airplane for hours is traumatic in itself, but compounded by having to sleep in an upright position.  Unless you're fortunate enough to fly business class, sleeping upright is a major strain on your spine, as it's not able to rest properly.  Also, every time you nod off and suddently jerk back to keep your head from ending up in your neighbour's lap, you give yourself a minor whiplash. Since the pineal gland receives it's direct nerve supply from the upper neck (via the superior cervical ganglion), chiropractic care can also help you to recover faster from the effects of jet lag, allowing you to enjoy the memories of your trip.

4. Pregnancy:  I have seen countless mothers that have begun to have spinal problems since having their children.  As a result of the hormonal changes during pregnancy, the ligaments around the spine become more lax, to allow for the child birth.  This is one reason that many woman who have neck or back pain before conceiving, often feel better while pregnant.  Unfortunately, the spine does not always balance out and stablize properly following the birth of their child.  So while many women often bring their newborn babies for chiropractic care, it is even more important for the mommy.  Due to the close link between the nervous and endocrine systems, chiropractic care will also help with post-partum depression and simply balancing the hormones again.

While there are many reasons for seeking chiropractic care, everyone should have their spines checked and adjusted on a regular basis, so when life does take you to one of the above-mentioned adventures, you will handle it much better.


For more information:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pineal_gland


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