Muscle tension, or stiffness, is a common ailment. One study shows that long-lasting chronic muscle pain and stiffness affects 25% of the US population.  Many more people suffer from the occasional bout of stiffness or tension.

So, how does a chiropractor help with muscle tension?  What can be done to help alleviate this pain and allow you to live life with less pain?

What Causes Muscle Tension?

There are a handful of reasons your muscles might be getting tight or stiff.  This pain occurs when the muscles are semi-contracted for extended periods of time.  In other words, your muscles are getting stiff because they’re flexing too hard.

Most of our muscles aren’t designed to be constantly contracted.  They only flex when being used, then they return to the normal loose or relaxed state.

However, after an injury, repetitive movements, stress, or poor ergonomics (think: sitting hunched over at a computer all day long), your muscles may not be functioning optimally.  What can happen is they pull on your bones, and your joints get moved out of alignment.

How Chiropractic Care Helps with Muscle Tension

Chiropractors help with subluxation, or misalignment, of the joints.  These joints that aren’t lined up just right can cause two things.

One, the muscles may continually be pulling on them, trying to manipulate them back into the right position.  This constant stress can lead to muscle tension, stiffness, or pain.

Two, the misaligned joints can cause the bones to pull on the muscles.  This means other muscles have to work harder to compensate for the muscle being pulled that is unable to do its job properly.

What often happens is a misaligned knee or hip can cause pain in the back as the entire body tries to compensate for the joint that isn’t functioning the right way.

With regular chiropractic visits, your joints are re-aligned so the muscles can function optimally.  However, what can happen is that your muscles have gotten so used to pulling in the wrong direction, they pull those joints back out of alignment.  This is why you may have to come back in and get adjusted a few times before the pain really starts to subside.  Over time, though, your body retrains the muscles to work the way they were originally designed to work.

Keep Your Muscles Loose at Home

To help keep those muscles all loosey goosey, stretches and exercises at home can be done.

Regular stretching helps to maintain flexibility and reduce tension in the muscles.  Focus on stretches that affect the muscles you find get sore most often.

Proper ergonomics goes a long way – stop slouching, sit up straight, feet flat on the floor, and keep the computer positioned at the right height.

Hydration is essential.  Most Americans are running around chronically dehydrated.  Think of it like this – is it easier to paddle through a lake with lots of water, or a lake that’s mostly mud?  Of course, it’s easier to paddle through water – the mud would be nearly impossible to maneuver in.  Your body works similarly, keep things moving with lots of water.

Relax a bit.  Take time to decompress, especially after a stressful day.  This can be with yoga, meditation, or just simply sitting outside and listening to the birds.

Come See Dr. Shayne Durbin a Chiropractor in Billings

Dr. Shayne Durbin is here to help ensure your muscles are working the way they’re supposed to be.

We don’t want to overtreat you, or undertreat you.  But the goal at our chiropractic office is to ensure your body is working just right.  We’ll design a treatment plan on keeping you there.

Call our office at 406-545-2128, or fill out the contact form to request a time, and we’ll get you in for your first step to less muscle pain.