There are many different reasons that we engage in physical activities. Some do it for a better aesthetic, others want to become physically and mentally stronger, while others engage in competitions for the thrill of the fight and the glory of victory.
While these reasons all differ, the road to achieving those goals is the same. Anybody who shares an interest in physical activities knows the importance of training. Whether it’s in hitting the gym for a strength conditioning routine, training for a specific sport at the local fitness center, or if it’s in sparring with your peers, we all need to train to get what we want.
We literally break down our muscles to get stronger
Through the repetitive extending and contracting of our muscles, we cause micro-tears in the muscle fibers. The post-training soreness that we feel is the physiological indicator of these micro-tears in our muscles. Muscles grow when the body is prompted to repair these micro-tears by filling in the gaps with new muscle fiber. As a result, the muscles become denser, making them stronger and bigger.
But before we start talking about gains, let’s talk about the soreness that comes first. Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness, or DOMS, is common among athletes and bodybuilders. The natural response to any form of pain is to want to alleviate it. There are two usual treatments that are recommended if you want to treat DOMS: massage therapy and chiropractic adjustments.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapists are trained to treat specific muscle groups. They help alleviate muscle soreness by applying pressure on the area. This pressure helps to disperse muscle knots. As an effect, this restores and even improves blood flow. With better blood flow, the body is better able to transport the nutrients that are necessary for muscle repair and recovery to the affected muscle. This translates to a quicker and fuller recovery.
Chiropractic Adjustments
On the other hand, a chiropractor is a professional who is trained to diagnose and treat muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments. Not only that, but chiropractors are also licensed to recommend supplements to a patient. They are allowed to create specialized training routines according to a patient’s needs. Chiropractors are also qualified to make spinal adjustments, which are often done to correct posture and to treat a wide variety of chronic body pain.
When Should You Choose One Over the Other?
Because chiropractors are able to diagnose patients, it’s a smart move to opt for chiropractic care first. This way, they would be able to gauge the severity of your condition. An accurate diagnosis is extremely important because this helps in the selection of proper treatment. This is especially true if the pain in your muscles restricts your movement. This is a common indication that you may have a severe injury.
There are many instances when muscular pain is not the true problem, but rather a symptom of a bigger problem. Getting the wrong treatment may not only be ineffective, it may even worsen the problem.
