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 a few extra pounds? Over time, those pounds can add up to a substantial number of health problems from heart and pulmonary diseases and diabetes to back problems and joint degeneration. Extra pounds put harmful stress on organs, like the heart, and on joints in the lower back, hips, and knees. A shocking 62% of American adults are overweight or obese, according to recent studies. That is an extremely compelling percentage and an enormous dilemma (no pun intended).
It is likely no surprise to you to learn that the human body was not intended to carry around overplus poundage in the form of body fat. Just 20 or 30 extra pounds can overload and even overwhelm the musculoskeletal system. Excess weight in the tummy, for instance, requires that the body compensate (counterbalance the weight) by tilting the pelvis forward. This angle creates compression in the joints of the lower back. Painful inflammation results as this joint compression restricts nerve activity. Nearly all individuals who are overweight feel substantial pain in their lower back caused by a compressed sciatic nerve or misalignments of the spinal column that impinge nerves due to weight-bearing stresses. If not addressed, misaligned vertebrae not only persist in irritating the degenerative changes that have already taken place, but can produce new arthritic changes in the spine in the future.
Are you wondering how chiropractic can help? First of all, to be clear, a healthy body weight is required for the musculoskeletal system to perform in the way it is built to. That said, in addition, chiropractic adjustments relieve nerve impingements in the spine and help to get movement back into the joints of the musculoskeletal system, such as in the lower back, hips, and knees. And, certainly, exercise and physical activity will be a lot easier, and healthier for the body when the spine is in alignment and the joints have good motion. Not only will exercise help with weight reduction, but it can delay degenerative changes as the body ages.
Healthcare professionals, like your chiropractor, can advise you regarding your diet and exercise alternatives. In addition to helping men and women suffering from back pain and joint inflammation, chiropractors can provide expert advice on the particular lifestyle modifications that can help an individual stay healthier, more vital, and more active through the years. Arthritis and immobility due to aging don’t have to be inevitable. The human body was intended for a lifetime of pain-free movement.
So, if those extra pounds have been sneaking up on you, and they’ve turned into a surprising load of pain, as your San Diego chiropractor and someone who understands, I can help. Make an appointment today!