Bottom Line:

Did you know that recent studies indicate that over 54% of people are stressed by the amount of stress in their lives? That’s a lot of stress! Stress in our shoulders. Stress in our neck. It’s no secret that muscle tension in those areas can contribute to headaches and neck and back pain. What you may not know, however, is that chronic stress can decrease your energy levels, increasing the likelihood that you’ll experience irritability, illness, and even depression. Hold on – there’s good news on the other side of that coin! There are, in fact, some very simple ways that you can begin to dramatically lower your stress levels and boost your energy levels. Keep reading…

Why it Matters:

The first and best way to improve your overall health and happiness is motion. We know we are built to move. We know we’re not meant to be sedentary creatures, and improving our spinal motion, or segmental motion, is one of the ways that Chiropractic adjustments can specifically help you move and feel better. How? Studies have shown that Chiropractic care can significantly reduce that nagging muscle tension in the shoulders, positively impacting your pain and stress levels and your range of motion. Researchers observed:

• A bilateral reduction in cervical muscle tension following a Chiropractic adjustment.
• Metabolic changes in the brain and skeletal muscles, as well as reductions in subjective pain, muscle tension following a Chiropractic adjustment

Next Steps:

Get active. Get adjusted. And, if you know someone who gets predictably sick or stressed every year around the holidays, show them you care and share this research with them. You may just be able to help them have a happier and healthier holiday season!

Science Source: Glucose Metabolic Changes in the Brain and Muscles of Patients with Nonspecific Neck Pain Treated by Spinal Manipulation Therapy, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Volume 2017. Article ID 4345703, Central Motor Excitability Changes After Spinal Manipulation: A Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Study, Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. Volume 25. Number 1. January 2002 Stress in America Survey. American Psychological Association. 2010