Wellness or maintenance chiropractic care refers to ongoing treatment intended to maintain optimal health and prevent the recurrence of problems, rather than focusing solely on treating existing symptoms.
I think of health and wellness as a person’s state of being, or their ability to be in homeostasis. Homeostasis is the ability to adapt and change within your environment to keep everything running well. If people can adapt well to their stressors or have a large variability to stay in homeostasis, then they have a greater ability to stay healthy.
How to Stay Healthy
What it takes for people to stay healthy depends on a lot of different things in the environment and within them. Health comes from the inside out, meaning your ability to cope with the environment (i.e. illness, injuries, stress) all comes from the inside.
The healthier a person is in their life, the more apt they are to stay healthy. I know that seems redundant, but it’s true. Everyone has a different level of health, and as long as you are making good healthy decisions, you will be healthy.
Here’s how this approach can contribute to reduced sickness, fewer injuries, improved mental state, and overall enjoyment of life.
- Prevention of Musculoskeletal Problems: Regular chiropractic care helps in maintaining proper alignment and function of the spine and musculoskeletal system. This preventive approach can reduce the likelihood of injuries and degenerative conditions, often resulting in fewer bouts of acute pain or chronic issues.
- Enhanced Immune System Function: The spine plays a crucial role in overall health, including the functioning of the nervous system, which in turn influences the immune system. Proper spinal alignment can aid in better nervous system function, potentially leading to an improved immune response, reducing the frequency of sickness.
- Improved Physical Function and Mobility: With regular adjustments, patients often experience improved joint mobility and muscle function. This can lead to better physical fitness, fewer injuries, and the ability to engage more actively in various activities, which is crucial for overall well-being.
- Stress Relief and Mental Health Benefits: Chiropractic care can be effective in managing stress, as it reduces tension in the body and aids in the release of endorphins, natural mood enhancers. This can have a positive impact on mental health, reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression.
- Better Posture and Body Awareness: Maintenance care often includes education on proper posture and ergonomics. This awareness can lead to better body mechanics, reducing the strain on the body during daily activities and potentially decreasing the risk of injury.
- Improved Sleep Quality: Regular chiropractic care can lead to better spinal health, which can improve sleep quality. Good sleep is essential for the body’s healing processes and overall health.
- Enhanced Quality of Life: By reducing pain, improving physical function, and contributing to better mental health, chiropractic wellness care can significantly enhance a person’s overall quality of life. Patients often report feeling more energetic and capable of enjoying daily activities with greater ease and less discomfort.
Eating well, getting enough sleep, exercising, minimizing chemicals, practicing stress management, and, of course, having a well-moving body, free of restrictions that limit full function all help a person stay healthy.
For the price of eating out once or twice a month, replacing that meal with a chiropractic adjustment can be an added tool that can help you continue to build optimal health.
http://www.jmptonline.org/article/S0161-4754(00)90107-6/fulltext