This time of year really should not be stressful. However, unfortunately, many of us get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and the stress builds up.
The month of December fills up so fast with family gatherings, work parties, Christmas programs, and a lot of shopping. This packed schedule can become overwhelming for many, and then the dreaded stress kicks in.
Stress is not healthy for us and can lead to aches and pains. The last thing you want is to not be feeling your best for this special time of the year.
In the chiropractic world, there are three factors that cause spinal dysfunction that can lead to pain. We like to call them the three Ts: traumas, toxins, and thoughts.
The first T — trauma — is more the obvious factor of spinal dysfunction. Trauma can be caused by a car accident, a fall, or even a repetitive motion that over time causes trauma to the spine. These types of trauma can simply misalign vertebrae in the spine and prevent the musculoskeletal system from moving in the way that it is intended to move.
This improper movement can cause pain in the neck, back, arms, and legs. Misaligned vertebrae can also apply light pressure to the nervous system. This pressure on the nervous system, even as light as the weight of a dime, can cause interference in the nervous system, which is called a subluxation.
This interference can prevent the body from functioning at its highest potential, which could lead to other health concerns such as sinus and allergy irritation, ear infections, acid reflux, irritable bowel, etc. Along with traumas, toxins and thoughts can also cause these subluxations, just in different ways.
The second T — toxins — from the foods we eat, the air we breathe, as well as tobacco, and alcohol can cause muscles in our body to become tight. When the muscles attached to our spinal column become tight, they can pull and tug on the vertebrae in our spine until it moves enough to cause a subluxation.
This pressure on the nervous system can prevent the brain from communicating to the rest of the body, causing more aches and pains or causing our bodily systems not to function at 100 percent.
The third T — thoughts — is what really causes a lot of our spinal related pains. These thoughts can be the stress in our lives, especially during the holiday season. The stress of working, making ends meet, and family related issues are all examples of thoughts causing our muscles to tighten and eventually to pull our vertebrae out of alignment, therefore, causing unwarranted pain.
Many of us get wrapped up in our busy Christmas schedules and forget or find it difficult to stop and simply enjoy the present moment.
To remove your nervous system interference, relax tight spinal muscles, and allow your body to function properly, a simple but specific chiropractic adjustment may be needed. This may be a new idea to some, but the body is built so intelligently that it can heal itself. That nagging pain in your upper back and neck area may just be from the stress of the season. Get adjusted.