When you were a kid you could get through the day without any neck or back pain. When you slept at night you didn’t wake up with neck pain and you could sit for long periods without suffering from back pain. But, as you have aged you realize that your posture is not what it used to be and you suffer from daily neck, and back pain. Your body is trying to tell you something is wrong.
Neck and back pain is often due to spinal misalignments in the neck and lower back which can be caused by injuries such as ‘whiplash,’ the cumulative affect of improper sitting posture, poor work habits, lack of proper exercise and other lifestyle-related factors. All of these factors cause misalignments in the spine, pain and eventually what is called degenerative joint disease (DJD) or arthritis. Arthritis or DJD simply put means wear and tear of the joints from overuse or increased joint stress. Sooner or later this increased stress in the joints causes the muscles to weaken, spasm and can even cause disc injuries in the spine resulting in further DJD or arthritis.
But, many of the causes of neck and back pain can be prevented through proper care such as chiropractic. Chiropractic care involves correcting spinal misalignments, restoring posture, strengthening muscles and reducing muscle spasm. If you are not yet suffering from chronic pain but realize that you are heading down the path to pain it is pertinent to try to fix these issues before you begin suffering. Remember, pain is your body’s way of telling you something is already wrong.
For more information, contact Dr. Kelly Herta with Aligned Health Chiropractic & Wellness Center at 661-295-5200.