Musculoskeletal Inflammation
Dr. Edward Chan, Chiropractor
This month’s blog relates to inflammation, from a musculoskeletal point of view. It is the body’s natural way to deal with self-protection and occurs throughout the body’s different tissues. There are different types of inflammation, acute and chronic.
Acute can follow from an injury such as a sprain. It helps remove irritants and may support recovery. The swelling disappears with time and care. We can apply ice, compression, and elevation in the early days following an injury. Applying an ice pack for up to 20 minutes at a time, resting the area, and keeping it elevated as much as possible. Longer icing times can actually follow in an expansion of the blood vessels and therefore may worsen.
On the other hand, chronic occurs when the body creates an unnecessary strong and prolonged reaction. The onset is slow and can last from months to years. Over time, it changes structure and function of the tissue, which can be identified by symptoms and lab test. These states have common names such as tendinosis and osteoarthritis.
To help with inflammation, finding the source can follow in long-lasting relief. Sometimes the causes can from poor biomechanics or ergonomics. Chiropractors focus on the person, including care for chronic inflammation. Care may include lifestyle changes, increasing flexibility and strength, adjusting form, and increasing the body’s resilience to workday stressors.
References:
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/joint-inflammation#remedies
- https://www.eihmd.com/2019/04/23/the-role-of-a-chiropractor-in-reducing-inflammation/
- https://www.ncmic.com/insurance/malpractice/risk-management/chronic-inflammation-and-the-chiropractic-practice
- https://chiropractic.ca/blog/helping-manage-inflammation/