How Improved Circulation Can Improve Your Pain
Mar 02, 2023
In a healthy body, blood flows freely. This allows the oxygen and nutrients the blood carries to reach every part of your body efficiently. Without proper circulation, you experience symptoms like numbness, painful muscles, and weakness.
Improved circulation can help painful muscles, joints, and extremities feel better. The team at Chiropractic, Rehab, and Sports Injuries of Louisville, led by Michael Young, D.C., offers several treatments to boost circulation and, in turn, reduce pain sensations. Here’s why these therapies work.
Poor circulation results when there’s interference in your circulatory system. This system, made up of the heart, veins, arteries, capillaries, and other blood vessels, works to give your cells absolutely all the oxygen and nutrients they need to thrive. This system also removes waste from the cells.
Poor circulation arises when blockages occur in the arteries or problems happen with the valves in the veins. Obstacles can develop in your blood vessels, so blood has a hard time getting through, especially to the far reaches of your body – like your toes and fingers.
When areas of your body don’t receive enough blood, they’re deprived of oxygen, and waste products build up. As a result you experience:
Causes of poor circulation include smoking, hypertension, diabetes, peripheral artery disease, obesity, varicose veins, Raynaud’s disease, and atherosclerosis.
Improved circulation can relieve a lot of pain, numbness, and weakness by getting your cells the nutrients and oxygen they need. If you have a diagnosed heart condition, high blood pressure, or diabetes, controlling the underlying disease can help you improve circulation.
You can also take lifestyle steps to improve circulation. Quit smoking, achieve a healthy weight, exercise, eat a healthy diet, and manage stress. Wearing compression socks, gloves, or stockings can also help with blood flow.
We also offer a number of therapies to help increase blood flow throughout your body. These include:
Dry needling involves inserting thin needles into tight muscles to stimulate them to contract or twitch. Your body immediately sends more blood to the area too, sensing the potential injury. Dry needling isn’t painful, but can do a lot to help relieve painful areas of your body.
Medical massage is tailored to your specific health needs. Our therapists target specific areas of pain or discomfort to improve circulation and reduce stress. The hands-on therapy moves blood and waste through your body efficiently.
Chiropractic adjustments are gentle manipulations that put your spine back into a more desirable alignment. By correcting these joint dysfunctions and restrictions, blood is better able to flow freely, so you feel less pain and immobility.
Physical therapy helps you get moving, even when you have a painful condition. Movement will encourage blood flow but can sometimes feel impossible when your muscles or joints ache. Physical therapy teaches you safe ways to exercise and improve circulation.
If you’re struggling with poor circulation, the team at Chiropractic, Rehab, and Sports Injuries of Louisville is here to help. Visit the office to be evaluated and treated. Call today, or use the online tool to schedule your appointment.