Myths of chiropractic care and medical misinformation abound on the internet. We debunked some of these in our first article in this series!
In this second instalment, we’ll focus on disproving the myths surrounding common ailments such as back pain and neck pain and give you advice on how to manage these issues properly.
Myth 1: Lifting is bad for your back
Contrary to popular belief, lifting in and of itself is not always terrible for your back!
The problem is not with lifting per se — it’s with your form and your load. Good form protects and strengthens your back and is specifically designed to handle the demands of weightlifting. Weights that are too heavy can strain your back because you are not accustomed to lifting such loads with proper technique yet. The key to proper lifting is gradual practice: slowly increasing your load using good lifting technique. This way, you can condition your back to handle increasingly-heavy loads without straining it.
Myth 2: Bed rest speeds up recovery
Many people believe that bed rest accelerates recovery. But this is not always the case! In fact, staying in bed for too long can actually hinder your recovery.
Too much bed rest stiffens your muscles as you lay in the same position for too long. Immobility and inactivity can cause loss of muscle strength and flexibility. Combined, this may make you even more prone to future muscle injury! On top of that, bed rest in itself does not actually accelerate the rate of your recovery; it simply helps to ease pain, but does not target its root cause.
Bed rest is most appropriate for acute back strains and injuries, but should last no more than a day or two. In fact, moderate activity restores the strength and mobility of the injured area, promoting healing and accelerating recovery. Bed rest should thus only be done in moderation.
Myth 3: Sitting up straight solves your postural issues
Yes, sitting up straight is important for good posture. However, sitting up straight for too long can actually irritate your back!
Improving posture is much more than just practicing correct posture; it’s also about exercising and strengthening the correct muscle groups. If you find yourself seated for prolonged periods of time, remember to stand up, walk around and take a breather every now and then. Alternatively, you may attempt any of the stretches in this
Myth 4: Herniated discs require surgery
Herniated discs can be excruciating and inconvenient, but they resolve naturally most of the time.
Surgery is an invasive, costly and risky procedure. It should only be performed as an absolute last resort or in case of a pressing medical emergency. In most cases, nonsurgical options are sufficient, such as chiropractic treatment and physical rehabilitation. Chiropractic treatment relieves pain, restores strength and stimulates recovery.
Myth 5: Painkillers accelerate recovery
Painkillers provide relief to help you get back on your feet earlier. They do not, however, resolve the underlying or root cause of your back pain—and are not intended to do so.
Most back pain is biomechanical in nature, meaning it is caused by musculoskeletal issues. Given this, a more effective approach is to strengthen, train up and condition your muscles as well as nourish your bones and joints with the right nutrients. Painkillers simply dull the pain and have no real biomechanical effect, and therefore do not speed up the actual process of muscle and joint recovery.
We hope that this installment has cleared up any misconceptions or concerns you may have about bodily pain and musculoskeletal issues! If you have any questions, schedule an appointment with us by calling us at 62084669 or dropping us an email wecare@mychirocare.sg!