Issues and injuries to the musculoskeletal system can impact your health, mobility, and ultimately your quality of life. When you search for a chiropractor near me in Atlanta, you are likely looking for a chiropractor who can help you with some type of musculoskeletal issue. Any issue with muscles, ligaments, tendons, vertebrae, spinal discs, and nerves are all types of musculoskeletal issues. Chiropractors can help provide all-natural treatment options for musculoskeletal issues that have been causing you pain and discomfort. When you meet with a chiropractor, you can expect safe, gentle, and therapeutic care that doesn’t require medications or invasive procedures. Instead, chiropractors help restore proper alignment and functioning so that your body can use its own natural healing abilities.
Here are 3 of the most common types of musculoskeletal issues and how a chiropractor can help you find relief:
Muscle Strain
Muscle strains are well-known issues that can affect people of all ages. Also commonly referred to as a pulled muscle, a muscle strain typically occurs when your muscle is stretched outside its normal range of motion. A pulled muscle can also refer to a torn muscle as well. Muscle strains are common sports injuries, car accident injuries, slip and fall injuries, and overuse injuries. Some of the most likely places to pull a muscle include your neck, lower back, shoulder, and leg.
A mild muscle strain may cause you pain and discomfort for a few days before subsiding on its own. However, if a muscle strain starts to affect your mobility and keeps you from completing daily tasks then a chiropractor can help. Your chiropractor can identify and resolve any misalignments in your spine that may be contributing to poor functioning in and around the damaged muscle. They may also recommend hot and cold therapy, stretches, and exercises to help strengthen and support the area going forward.
Herniated Disc
A herniated disc is also more commonly known as a slipped disc or ruptured disc. This type of musculoskeletal injury refers to the spinal discs that separate the vertebrae in your spine. The spinal disc functions like a shock absorber and cushion between two vertebrae. Certain conditions can cause the disc to slowly lose its elasticity and even start to crack and dry up, which negatively impacts its functioning. A herniated disc can also be caused by an acute injury like whiplash or a blow to the spine that can cause a disc to slip out of place.
When a herniated disc is outside of its normal space, it can put pressure on nearby nerves and lead to uncomfortable symptoms like pain, tingling, and even numbness. A herniated disc can send painful signals through your extremities, like into your arms and fingers or through your legs to your toes. A chiropractor will help identify the location of the herniated disc and perform gentle spinal adjustments to restore the spinal disc to its proper positioning. Manual therapies and therapeutic exercises can help bring about lasting relief from herniated disc pain.
Epicondylitis
Epicondylitis is a type of overuse injury more commonly known as tennis elbow. The tissue that connects your forearm to your elbow is called the epicondyle and it can become inflamed and even damaged by repetitive movements like that of swinging a tennis racket. However, you don’t even have to play tennis to experience epicondylitis. When the ligaments and tendons in your arms and wrists are overworked and stressed, they can swell and this inflammation can cause pain and irritation.
A chiropractor can help relieve your tennis elbow pain in a variety of ways. First, they may want to assess the arm joint and how your arm is functioning. They may also assess your spine to determine if any misalignments are contributing to the dysfunction. Whether you are an avid sports player or use repetitive arm and wrist motions in your line of work, your chiropractor may help you practice stretches, exercises, and even learn new techniques to better support your arm and elbow joint going forward.
No matter what musculoskeletal issue is bothering you, a chiropractor near me in Atlanta will work with you to determine the root cause of your pain and develop a treatment plan that provides you with lasting relief. Chiropractors take a holistic approach to your health and well-being, so they may also discuss healthier habits and nutrition as well so you can get the quality, comprehensive care you deserve.
