Is sleep really important?

By February 6, 2024Newsletter

Yes, You Should Continue With Chiropractic Care in The Winter

The cold, damp air during the fall and winter often exacerbates joint and muscle pain – so yes, you should continue with chiropractic care in the winter!

Maintaining your best health means doing what you can to prevent injuries, decrease pain, and promote recovery. Whether you are just not feeling like yourself, recovering from a fall, have a recent injury or arthritis, or are living with chronic pain, we are here to help you all year round. 

How Chiropractic Can Help

We can help treat falls on ice and slick surfaces, snow sports injuries, and other joint and muscle stiffness and pain, whether as your primary source of treatment or in accompaniment to traditional medicine.

How does an Chiropractic help?

  • Joint pain is often exacerbated by cold, wet weather. This can be a result of joint fluid moving less freely, making the joints stiffer and causing pain during movement. In addition, muscles contract with the cold and become less freely moveable. Chiropractic adjustments allow your muscles to loosen and relax, your joints to release, and the fluid within to move freely, and most of all, help to prevent and reduce pain.
  • Winter sports injuries: Injury prevention and recovery often involve several modes of treatment, from traditional medicine to preventive care. You can help to loosen up before a snowboarding or ski trip with an initial trip to us. If you do get injured, chiropractic care can help you heal faster and with less discomfort. Chiropractic care helps the body heal naturally without invasive procedures or medicine. Your adjustments can help with misalignments and can be a great addition to other medical treatments after a fall or impact.
  • When you are comfortable, you sleep better. Adequate sleep is paramount in maintaining the parts of your body that promote overall wellness. When you get the rest you need, this affects your mood, alertness, and ability to maintain safe practices. 

Keep Us at The Top of Your Winter Wellness List!

We care about how you manage through the winter months. Whether you are a snow lover or a snow avoider, simply being cold or damp can make you feel sluggish, sore, and unmotivated. 

As an essential part of your healthcare team, we want to ensure you maintain optimal health and wellness all year. So, yes! You should absolutely continue with Chiropractic care in the winter!

 

Your Sleep Affects Your Health More Than You May Believe

As a member of your healthcare team, I would be remiss if I did not ask questions about your sleep habits. After all, your sleep affects your health more than you may believe. Your sleep quality is essential to how your body repairs itself, metabolism, joint and bone health, and mood.

There are many variables to consider regarding how well you do or don’t sleep, but in the interest of sticking with one – we will evaluate the mattress you are sleeping on.

Beyond the price tag, there are things to consider when making this critical purchase. 

Sore Neck or Back?

Waking up with a sore neck or back will directly impact whether you make it to work on time or at all. Unexpected stiffness or pain can make the simplest tasks feel impossible. The mattress quality can significantly predict how well you maintain your musculoskeletal and joint health while you sleep.

Here are a few things you should remember when deciding to make a mattress purchase: 

When Should A Mattress Be Replaced?

This is a simple one. Before you wake up with sore or aching muscles. If you have turned your mattress a few times and noticed worn areas or cannot seem comfortable, it is time. Typically, ten years is the time to replace a mattress, but again – if you are feeling sore on an older mattress, start shopping around.

A medium-firm mattress is often the most beneficial for those with chronic low back pain. Sticking with a medium-firm mattress has been shown to decrease pain, improve sleep, and generally support your spine better than alternatives. 

Generally speaking, the standing posture of your spine should mimic that of your sleeping position. With this in mind, custom-made mattresses are often the best in reducing pain. 

Alternatively, on the opposite side of the spectrum, soft mattresses decrease excessive force on your joints – but can promote sagging of the hips that causes hip and back pain. 

A New Mattress is An Important Purchase

Purchasing a mattress should be just as important as buying a car. It would help if you saw it, tested it out, lay on it, rolled over, and adjusted it to ensure it fits you correctly. With so many options, I suggest you do your research and take the time to explore the specific features you may require. Even better, ask us for tips on what to look for in relation to your body’s needs. 

Your Quality of Sleep is Affecting Your Health

Sleep quality can significantly impact your quality of life, and that cost should be considered as a predictor of how well you will invest in your health. Sleep deprivation can cause a decrease in your productivity at work, the number of sick days used, and increased injuries due to delayed responses and accuracy. Consider the lost wages as a result of not sleeping well. 

Your Sleep Matters to Us

If you are taking care of one aspect of your joint and body health by maintaining your Chiropractic care, making adjustments to improve your overall sleep is a piece of this puzzle. 

Your body heals when you sleep well, and this is the time it takes to rejuvenate itself so you can feel your best. Take your time and research to ensure you provide your body with the best sleep conditions you can.

In the meantime, take care and let us know of any questions.