Aging Graceful on the Inside

Motion is Life
Imagine a well functioning machine. You can almost see its parts moving in rhythm with constant action and flawless timing. A healthy body works in much the same way. We all know that a healthy heart pumps the right amount of blood throughout the body with precision timing and pressure. The same is true for the rest of the systems of the body. These systems are meant to work together with effortless ease. What makes us different than a machine is our ability to compensate and heal. When one component of our body does not work at 100% another part can pick up the slack and keep us moving.

Messages traveling down your spine give the body commands to gracefully perform the activities and functions of everyday life. This passing of information is essential to the optimal function of the body. When the messages are interrupted, stopped or altered the body doesn't work optimally. We see these changes when standing up straight becomes difficult, recovery time from workouts is slower, or flexibility is down. The grace and ease of movement and function are decreased when you spine is on your nerves (literally)!

Chiropractic Helps
If we wore our spines on our sleeves, I wouldn't have to explain what I do. When the body is not moving with effortless ease on the inside extra wear and tear occurs. With excessive wear and tear some areas of the spine appear to age decades faster than others. This wear and tear shows on the outside through poor posture and inability to move easily and pain-free. Chiropractors work with your body to assist in restoring health. Knowing your internal body health and taking daily action steps to keep your body healthy are the two key tools to aging gracefully from an inside out approach.

It is the central function of the chiropractor to remove pressure from the nervous system, restore the flow of information, and allow your body to work how it once did. A small amount of nerve pressure, over time, coupled with minor spinal misalignments can lead to spinal decay or aging. When the spine ages or wears out discs thin or herniate, bones lose there regular shape, and nerves become irritated. An irritated nerve, like static on a cell phone, does not transfer messages clearly through the body.

Spinal Degeneration Takes Time
Just like wrinkles or grey hair do not show up over night (though it may seem that way!), wearing out on the inside takes time. I have patients entering the office that have been wearing out their spine for decades without knowing it. Having a complete spinal exam by someone trained in well spine care is the best way to know how your spine has been aging. A full assessment of the spine and nervous system function is the best way to ensure your long term health. It is always faster and easier to help people when there is less wear and tear present. Many times patients wait for enough breakdown to take place that they experience pain or changes in their ability to function. At that point, it is now my role to decrease pain, restore the normal function of the nervous system, and finally start to support them in continued spinal health.

The body is designed to heal. When injured it is natural for the body to heal itself. When patients come into the office and I find degeneration or excessive wear in their spines, I can't help but ask, "Why do you think your body hasn't healed by now?" I usually get that "deer in the headlights" look, but my answer is always the same. When there is pressure or irritation on your nerves, the ones that send messages everywhere in your body, communication is changed and your body does not work optimally. The graceful timing and effortless ease of function are waiting to be restored. Chiropractic care is a safe and effective way to achieve this restoration. For years, chiropractic has been helping patients age with grace by keeping their spines off their nerves

Dr. Jill Aardema, DC