It’s not uncommon to start to feel like your joints are getting stiff or your back is hurting more often as you get older. While it might not be the best solution to the problem, it’s easy to pop pain killers morning and night so you can go about your day. However, there are better solutions to your pain than a steady diet of ibuprofen or acetaminophen. You can see a chiropractor in NYC to treat a variety of maladies or conditions. If you’re not sure what all your chiropractor can treat, read the guide below our team at Recalibrate Physical Therapy to find out.

Whiplash

Any number of incidents can cause whiplash. You could be in a car accident that whips your head forward and back, get a head injury that jerks your neck, or even move too quickly doing everyday tasks. The pain from whiplash comes from muscles that have stretched too far, then rapidly retracted. The muscles then feel tense as they heal, which can be incredibly painful. A chiropractor will treat whiplash by helping the muscles stretch back out with controlled and targeted movements. You’ll get the relief you need to get the full range of motion back in your neck while eliminating the pain that limits you.

Sciatica

Sciatica is a common condition that’s the result of pressure on the sciatic nerve, which runs from the back of the pelvic down to the back of the legs. Pressure on the nerve will cause radiating pain from the lower back and make it painful to sit, stand, walk, or generally function in everyday life. Your chiropractor can help to ease some of the pain by applying intense massage therapy techniques that will relax the muscles. They can then apply small spinal manipulations to take the pressure off your sciatic nerve and relieve the pain you’re experiencing.

Osteoarthritis

Some injuries can lead to osteoarthritis. Whether it’s a knee, foot, elbow, or even a hand, an injury puts you at risk of developing osteoarthritis at a younger age than someone who hasn’t. It doesn’t matter if it’s in the early or advanced stages; osteoarthritis can be painful. Those who live with it will often be told the best treatment is to get up and get moving, but this can sometimes be too painful. A chiropractor can help to maximize the functions of an arthritic joint by working to realign the joints the way they’re supposed to be. Proper alignment will help to reduce bone-on-bone friction, which is what causes pain and swelling in arthritis.

Chronic headaches

Headaches aren’t always something you can power through and go about your day. Tension headaches or migraines can force sufferers to take time off work or away from their families. A chiropractor can help to reduce the frequency of headaches by improving spinal function and aligning vertebrae, which will reduce pressure on blood vessels and nerves in the neck.