San Diego Chiropractor

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 the harm in being just a few pounds overweight? As we age, those pounds can add up to a large number of health issues from heart and pulmonary diseases and diabetes to back challenges and joint degeneration. Even a few additional pounds put undue stress on organs, like the heart, as well as on joints in the low back, hips, and knees. Sadly,more than half (62%) of American adults are overweight or obese, according to recent studies. That is a very significant number and an enormous dilemma (no pun intended).

Though we try to pretend otherwise, most of us know that the human body has not evolved to transport a surfeit of weight in the form of body fat. A mere excess of 20 or 30 pounds can veritably overload and encumber the joints and muscles of the body. Added weight in the belly, for instance, requires that the body compensate (counterbalance the weight) by tilting the pelvis forward. The tilt puts pressure on the joints of the low back. Painful inflammation results as this joint compression hinders nerve activity. A larger percentage of individuals that have a “spare tire”experience low back pain caused by  a pinched sciatic nerve or spinal misalignments that impinge nerves as a consequence of weight-bearing stresses. If left untreated, misaligned vertebra generally create new arthritic changes in the spine over time, as well as continue to irritate the degenerative changes that have already taken place.

You’ll be happy to hear that chiropractic treatment can help. To begin with the obvious, a healthy body weight is essential in order for the musculoskeletal system to function in the way it is built to. That said, in addition, chiropractic adjustments relieve nerve compression in the spinal column and assist in getting movement back into the joints of the musculoskeletal system, such as in the low back, hips, and knees. And, of course exercise and physical activity are a lot easier, and more beneficial for the body, when the the joints have good mobility and the spine is aligned. The added benefit of exercise the, in addition to helping with weight reduction, it can actually slow the pace of degenerative changes as we age.

Healthcare professionals, like your chiropractor, can talk to you about your diet and exercise choices. In addition to treating people suffering from back pain and joint inflammation, chiropractors can provide expert guidance regarding the kinds of lifestyle changes that can help you to stay healthier, more energetic, and more active through the years. It isn’t a foregone conclusion that arthritis and immobility are just a part of the aging process. The human body was created for a lifetime of pain-free movement.

So, if you’ve been thinking that a few extra pounds won’t hurt, think again! As your chiropractor in San Diego, and someone who cares deeply about your overall health, I’d like to help you to make healthier choices. Make an appointment today!

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