A Bicyclist’s Guide to Chiropractic Care

chiropractor in Wilmington NCThere’s no doubt about it—biking can take a real toll on the body, whether you’re a recreational or competitive cyclist.  A burning sensation in the shoulders, numbness in the arms and hands, and tightness in the neck are just a few of the common “aches and pains” that many riders deal with.  Not to mention frequent upper and lower back pain.  While it might be tempting to ignore these types of symptoms and “pedal through it” when they first appear, they often recur and can eventually lead to chronic musculoskeletal pain.  This in turn can seriously interfere with both training and enjoyment of the sport.

Can a chiropractic physician help cyclists with these kinds of problems?  Absolutely!  In addition, chiropractors can also help prevent future injuries and even enhance performance—speed, strength and stamina—for healthy cyclists.  In fact, athletes of all kinds can benefit from the advice and treatment of a well-trained, experienced chiropractor—especially one who specializes in sports and understands the importance of biomechanics in a real-world athletic setting.

In addition to being experts at diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal problems, chiropractors have unique knowledge and skills that are particularly useful in working with cyclists.  In fact, a combination of general and specialized training and experience are essential to successful treatment because everything in cycling is interconnected: the nerves, the bones, the muscles, and the joints.  In most cases, all of these elements must be addressed in a holistic way by a systematic treatment plan in order to get good, lasting results.  This is one reason why a chiropractor who specializes in sports medicine will probably have the most to offer you as a cyclist.  They will also work with adjunct professionals such as sports trainers or physical therapists as needed to address your particular needs.

Solutions to problems cyclists commonly experience will likely be multi-dimensional.  That is, they may involve a combination of adjustments, deep tissue massage, exercises, and stretches. will likely be required.  For example, if a cyclist is suffering from lower back pain, it may be due to hip rotation.  An adjustment of the sacroiliac joints will be quite helpful, but appropriate stretching and strengthening exercises will also be needed to address the weakness and tightness in the muscles that affect the hip joints.  Strengthening exercises will contribute stability to the joint, while stretching will help to lengthen the muscles in the region, thus preventing them from contracting when stressed.

While a qualified chiropractor can be a valuable partner in helping patients recover from cycling-related injuries and pain, the cyclist must also do his or her part to make a treatment plan successful.  In the same way that the athlete needs to actually execute a training program for it to be effective, he or she must also take responsibility for the at-home aspects of any treatment plan for it to achieve results.  If you do not complete the prescribed stretching and strengthening exercises at home, you may not get the relief you expect.

Finally, a sports chiropractor will also likely be able to help you professionally fit your bicycle to maximize your efficiency and to minimize the unnecessary strain on your body.  Bicycle size, seat placement, handlebar height, and cycling posture all have a significant impact on both performance and stress on the body.  In much the same way that runners benefit from gait analysis, cyclists benefit from an insightful analysis of riding mechanics.

Contact Southeastern Healthcare for a Chiropractor in Wilmington NC!

If you or someone you know is an avid cyclist who wants to ride healthier, perform better and enjoy the sport longer, our chiropractor in Wilmington NC can help!  Call or visit our office today!

Back or Neck Pain? Chiropractic Can Help!

back pain chiropractorPeople who suffer from long-term neck or back pain Wilmington NC are often frustrated by the lack of treatment options available from their traditional healthcare providers. All too often, conventional treatments range from ineffective medications to dangerous surgeries, both of which offer more risks than results. As a result, it’s no surprise that so many back and neck pain sufferers turn to alternative treatments like chiropractic care for relief.

Three Out of Four Back Pain Sufferers Turn to Alternative Therapies

In a recent study performed and published by Consumer Reports, 45,601 of the magazine’s subscribers responded to a questionnaire regarding alternative therapy. As it turned out, three out of four people responded as having used some type of alternative therapy to treat their health issues.

It was also estimated that during the time the survey was being conducted, more than 38 million Americans made over 300 million visits to chiropractors, acupuncturists, massage therapists, and other alternative medicine and holistic practitioners.

One of the most important pieces of information gained by the Consumer Reports study results is that not all alternative therapy options deliver the same level of results when it came to treating the 12 common health problems listed in the study’s questionnaire. More specifically, when it came to back pain, neck pain, and osteoarthritis, chiropractic care and deep-tissue massage were rated very highly by the respondents. In fact, in the cases of back pain and neck pain, respondents noted significantly more relief through hands-on treatments like chiropractic and massage than through prescription medications. In addition, one in four study respondents felt that their chiropractor was more interested in them and their pain relief, and were more insightful than their medical doctors.

Chiropractic Care Outperforms All Other Back Pain Treatments

The Consumer Reports study results suggests that “Chiropractic outperformed all other back-pain treatments.” By comparison, prescription medication, deep-tissue massage, yoga, and Pilates all delivered similar results, but lacked the effectiveness produced by chiropractic care. Of the study’s respondents who had sought chiropractic care for their back pain, 65% reported that it helped reduce their pain “a lot.” It was also reported that more people suffering from back pain sought treatment from chiropractors than they did medical doctors, and more importantly, the majority of them felt that they benefited from their choice.

The results are similar among neck pain sufferers. Nearly 65% of the study’s respondents who tried chiropractic care for their pain reported that it helped their pain “a lot.” By comparison, prescription pain medications ranked fourth in the ratings with just a 49% satisfaction score.

The Impact of Chiropractic Care on Other Health Conditions

Another impressive fact taken from the Consumer Reports study was that chiropractic care scored high as an effective therapy option for a host of other health conditions besides neck and back pain. Chiropractic care was ranked third as a treatment for allergies, second for treating colds and flu, third for treating fibromyalgia, and third as a headache and migraine treatment.

The Results are In – Chiropractic Care for Back Pain Wilmington NC Can Help Alleviate Your Pain

If you have chronic neck and/or back pain Wilmington NC, chiropractic care can help. Call Southeastern Chiropractic today at (910) 239-3551. We are here for you. Discover for yourself the difference that safe and effective chiropractic care can make. With six locations throughout the Wilmington area, we have an office conveniently close to you.