Chiropractic Care for Those With Limited Mobility
Reviewed by: Dr. Steven Knauf, D.C.
By Donna Stark
No matter how old you are or what your physical abilities may be, there are major advantages that you will receive by including regular movement in your daily routine. Moving every day has the capacity to improve every part of your life. It’s the foundation of optimal health and wellness.
But unfortunately, it’s also a lot easier for some people to do than others. Individuals with disabilities or restricted movement caused by injury, illness, or other health conditions may require additional support to maintain their mobility. Although this support can be found in many different ways, chiropractic care is truly one of the best.
The doctors at The Joint Chiropractic understand the importance of movement and how it can be incorporated into the lives of those who, on the surface, may feel limited.
What Is Limited Mobility?
When most people think of mobility issues, they tend to only picture those who use a walker or wheelchair. But the umbrella of restricted mobility issues covers a lot more than that. Anyone who cannot move around freely, easily, and without pain is included, along with those whose gross motor skills and fine motor skills are impaired.
From complications with aging to poor lifestyle habits to injuries to neurological disorders, mobility issues can affect anyone. Here are a few examples.
- Multiple sclerosis
- Spinal cord injuries
- Arthritis
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Amputations
- Cerebal Palsy
- Fractures or muscle tears
- Strok
Movement is Medicine
People who use a wheelchair or who experience chronic mobility issues are at a higher risk for spinal issues, joint degeneration, blood clots, and muscle atrophy. Additionally, their restricted mobility may exacerbate any pre-existing health conditions. This is why it is so vital to keep the body moving as much as it is capable of. Movement is medicine. It helps us feel better, sleep better, and function better. There is no better way to maintain, improve, and preserve your overall well-being than movement. And there is no easier way to keep your body in motion than to establish routine chiropractic care.
Enhancing Overall Function and Mobility With Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care is an all-natural approach for the treatment and improvement of musculoskeletal health conditions. By focusing on the proper alignment and function of the spine and other joints in the body, it has helped millions of people achieve long-lasting pain relief, increased mobility, and greater independence.
Chiropractic care is also an approach that is non-invasive and drug-free. This makes it a viable solution for individuals of all ages and abilities, and is particularly important for people with disabilities or mobility issues.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care can play a crucial role in enhancing the lives of people with mobility issues by addressing physical capabilities, supporting emotional and mental health, and improving overall well-being. It can do so in the following ways.
Pain and Discomfort
Chiropractic treatment can help bring some much-needed relief to individuals with disabilities or restricted movement who are experiencing pain caused by spinal misalignments, muscular imbalances, and joint dysfunction. It can do so by restoring proper alignment, alleviating pressure on nerves, reducing inflammation, improving blood flow, and minimizing muscle strain and tension.
Mobility and Independence
Mobility issues and impaired function of limbs can have a significant impact on the daily lives of people with injuries or disabilities. Such issues can make it harder to get around, complete daily tasks, and take care of yourself independently. Chiropractic adjustments can help by addressing alignment issues, improving muscle and joint function, and increasing flexibility and range of motion.
Nervous System
The spine plays a critical role in how well the body functions because it protects the communication pathways between the brain and the nervous system. If the spine is unhealthy, so are those pathways, and as a result, your body will be unhealthy too. However, by receiving a spinal adjustment, those pathways can be restored. Proper alignment can help relieve nerve compression, optimizing the communication between the brain and nervous system. This can have a powerfully positive effect on the body’s organs, senses, motor control, and other neurological symptoms.
Overall Well-Being
Routine chiropractic care is a great option for those with decreased mobility issues because it uses an all-natural approach to improve health and wellness. This means there are none of the unpleasant side effects that often accompany prescription medications and invasive procedures. Chiropractic care can help lower blood pressure, improve the function of the body’s major systems (respiratory, circulatory, immune, and digestive, just to name a few), and speed the healing and recovery process of injuries. It can also help reduce the risk of future injuries and medical conditions in the process.
With the right support (which may include traditional medical therapies), chiropractic care offers many benefits that help keep people moving and enjoying life as best as they possibly can. If you are interested in learning more about the benefits chiropractic care can bring and how it can enhance your quality of life, visit The Joint Chiropractic today.
Physical Therapy and Chiropractic Care
Although physical therapy and chiropractic care are notably different from each other, they do share an important commonality -- improving the function of the body. Both physical therapists and chiropractors strive to alleviate pain and improve mobility so that their patients can continue living intentional lives. While physical therapists may focus on only one part of the body (the injured or impaired part) and use specific tools, modalities, and corrective exercises, chiropractors focus on the patient as a whole and use hands-on manipulations to the spine and other joints of the body to bring relief and improve function.
Chiropractors and physical therapists are also similar regarding the personalized treatment plans they design for their patients. However, the chiropractic approach focuses more on the patient’s overall health and wellness. Lifestyle recommendations, nutritional advice, stress management techniques, and ergonomic adjustments to the home or work environment are often shared with the chiropractic patient.
Looking at what both types of treatment can bring to the table, it’s easy to see how they can be so complementary to each other. Incorporating chiropractic care and physical therapy can truly benefit anyone who is looking for long-term relief, improved mobility, and enhanced function.
All Shapes and Sizes
Mobility issues can come in a variety of forms. From arthritis to injuries to aging and cognitive decline to disabilities, finding the support you need to move safely and freely in your environment, and to become more independent, is important. Speak to your chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic to learn more about chiropractic care and the benefits it may deliver. You may discover an answer you didn’t know existed.
The information, including but not limited to text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this page, is for informational purposes only. The purpose of this post is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics, including but not limited to the benefits of chiropractic care, exercise, and nutrition. It is not intended to provide or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your chiropractor, physician, or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this page.