As a San Diego Chiropractor, I counsel many individuals who come to my clinic who want to lose weight. I know how hard it can be, and I also know how important it is to lose those extra pounds. What’s an extra pound or two? Over time, they can add up to a large number of health issues from heart and pulmonary diseases and diabetes to back pain and joint degeneration. Even a few additional pounds put excessive stress on organs, like the heart, as well as on joints in the low back, hips, and knees. Sadly,more than half (62%) of men and women in the U.S. are overweight or obese, according to recent studies. That is an extremely compelling figure and a sizable national health issue (no pun intended).
Though we try to pretend otherwise, most of us know that the human body has not evolved to schlepp around additional poundage in the form of body fat. A mere excess of 20 or 30 pounds can literally overload and encumber the musculoskeletal system. Extra weight in the abdominal region, for example, requires that the body compensate (counterbalance the weight) by tilting the pelvis forward. This angle puts pressure on the joints of the low back. Joint compression impedes nerve activity and causes painful inflammation. Nearly all people that have a heavy midsectionexperience low back pain as the result of a compressed sciatic nerve or misalignments of the spinal column that restrict nerves as a result of weight-bearing stresses. If not addresses, misaligned vertebra as a rule develop into new arthritic changes in the spine over time, as well as continue to irritate the degenerative changes that have already taken place.
The good news is that chiropractic treatment can help. To begin with the obvious, a moderate body weight is requisite in order for the musculoskeletal system to perform in the way it is meant to. That said, in addition, chiropractic adjustments relieve nerve restrictions in the spinal column and help to get mobility back into the joints of the musculoskeletal system, such as in the low back, hips, and knees. And, certainly exercise and physical activity will be a lot easier, and more beneficial for the body, when the spine is in alignment and the joints have good motion. The added benefit of exercise the, in addition to helping with weight reduction, it can actually reduce degenerative changes as the body ages.
It is always best to talk over your diet and exercise options with a healthcare professional, like your chiropractor. In addition to treating individuals suffering from back pain and joint inflammation, chiropractors can provide expert suggestions on the kinds of lifestyle changes that can help a person to stay healthier, more vigorous, and more active through the years. Arthritis and immobility due to aging don’t have to be inevitable. The structure of the human body is intended to carry a person through an entire lifetime of pain-free movement.
So, if those extra few pounds have started to add up to a lot of pain, as your chiropractor in San Diego and someone who cares deeply about your overall health, I can help. Make an appointment today!