Fatigue and Exhaustion: Chiropractic Fitness and Rehabilitation

Preparing for the holidays is exciting but can generate intense stress and anxiety. This can cause individuals to feel tired constantly, which can lead to other issues like sleep problems, brain fog, digestive issues, and musculoskeletal disorders. Chiropractic care can return the body to optimal function, increasing circulation, restoring spinal alignment, re-energizing the mind and body, and preventing future fatigue and exhaustion.

Exhaustion and Fatigue

Primary causes of fatigue and exhaustion are stress, overworking, school work, lack of sound sleep, excessive caffeine or other energy boosters, and the holidays.

Stress Reduction

Stress is a leading contributor to fatigue and exhaustion.

• Stress causes the muscles to contract, restricting blood circulation.
• Chronic stress causes the musculoskeletal system to be in a state of continued constriction.
• Constant muscle tension can cause injury and chronic conditions that can lead to secondary disorders like tension headaches and migraines.

Quality Sleep

High-quality rest means falling asleep naturally, staying asleep through the night comfortably, and waking rested and refreshed.

• Lack of enough sleep strains the nervous system.
• Not enough sleep or disruptions to the sleep-wake cycle (that can happen with shift work or traveling work) can cause physiological fatigue.
• This causes reduced motor skills, similar to having a blood alcohol content of 0.1.

Nutrition

Proper nutrition is key to overall health and stress management. An unhealthy diet can be the main cause of fatigue. Just like putting the wrong gas into your car can cause major issues stalling or stopping entirely. The same is true with the body. The body is a complicated engine that requires healthy fuel to work properly.

• Macronutrients (fat, carbohydrates, and protein) and Micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) are essential.

Chiropractic Care and Functional Medicine

Chiropractic care can be a long-term solution for fatigue and exhaustion.

Spine Realignment

Spinal realignment resets the body through better posture and brain function through the improved circulation flowing through the spinal cord.

• Optimal spinal realignment:
• Relieves headaches
• Alleviates discomfort symptoms
• Increases energy
• Restores range of motion

Relieve Pressure On The Nerves

Chiropractic releases pressure on the nerves.

• The central nervous system’s response to pain, energy levels, comfort, and mobility is impacted by the health of the nerves.
• Just a minimal amount of pressure can reduce the strength of a nerve by 90%.
• Nerves that are not working correctly have difficulty transmitting messages, often causing pain.

Loosen Tense Muscles

Chiropractic care and massage therapy can help relieve the tension in overworked muscles.

• Fatigue and exhaustion can cause the muscles to work harder/overcompensate to try to maintain balance.
• Over time, the muscles can’t keep it up and become frozen and tense.

Nervous System Regulation

Chiropractic care can restore nervous system function.

• When the spine is not correctly aligned, the electrical impulses are not transmitted properly.
• Common side effects include headaches, neck and back problems, and digestive issues.

Chiropractic care can restore the body to a refreshed and rejuvenated state. It can improve circulation, rebalance the body, increase oxygen levels and strengthen the immune system.

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References

Azzolino, Domenico, et al. “Nutritional Status as a Mediator of Fatigue and Its Underlying Mechanisms in Older People.” Nutrients vol. 12,2 444. 10 Feb. 2020, doi:10.3390/nu12020444

Chaudhuri, Abhijit, and Peter O Behan. “Fatigue in neurological disorders.” Lancet (London, England) vol. 363,9413 (2004): 978-88. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(04)15794-2

Evans, William J, and Charles P Lambert. “Physiological basis of fatigue.” American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation vol. 86,1 Suppl (2007): S29-46. doi:10.1097/phm.0b013e31802ba53c

Finsterer, Josef, and Sinda Zarrouk Mahjoub. “Fatigue in healthy and diseased individuals.” The American journal of hospice & palliative care vol. 31,5 (2014): 562-75. doi:10.1177/1049909113494748

Rosenthal, Thomas C et al. “Fatigue: an overview.” American family physician vol. 78,10 (2008): 1173-9.