Stress and Chiropractic
Have you noticed that when you are stressed, overwhelmed or feeling run down that your shoulders are basically touching your ears? Do you notice that pain or discomfort elsewhere can also be worse when you are in that state?
This is because there is a direct correlation between tension building, perceiving pain and mental health! In times of stress, there are common areas that can tend to tighten up. This is a musculoskeletal manifestation of our fight/flight response.
When you become aware of this, actively think about relaxing the shoulders and drawing them away from the ears as well as relaxing the jaw. You can also work similarly with other areas.
To reduce stress related muscle tension take a moment to:
- Relax the muscles and stretch
- Mobilise the joints
- Take several deep breaths
Now you’re good to go again!
Aim to take breaks every 30 minutes during your day to stretch, walk around the office, relax the muscles or get a glass of water for optimum productivity and reduced muscle tension. On longer breaks be sure to include activity.
Ask more about how chiropractic can support you during periods of stress at your next chiropractic appointment.
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