chiropractic care after having a baby

When you look at yourself in the mirror when you're undressed, you should ideally see a degree of symmetry from one side of your body to the other. If not, it's possible that you could be experiencing some degree of pain — or that pain could be in your future. Many symmetry-based problems can result from a misaligned spine. The good news is that if you see a chiropractor about your symmetry-related concerns, he or she will be able to assess your spine and your body overall, determine if the spine is out of alignment, and perform a series of adjustments over several appointments that will restore your spine's healthy curve and, ideally, promote symmetry. Here are some areas that you might initially notice are problematic.

Shoulders

If you stand square in front of the mirror and look at the tops of your shoulders, you should be able to draw an imaginary line that is perfectly horizontal across the tops of the shoulders. In some cases, one of the shoulders will appear higher or lower than the other. Another way to notice this issue is if you can reach farther down one thigh with one of your arms; in most cases, that arm won't be longer than the other — that shoulder will simply be lower. If your upper back isn't in alignment, it can tilt the shoulders to create this issue, which may eventually result in pain.

Hips

Unless you're significantly overweight, you should be able to see the two points of your pelvis at the height of your hips when you stand in front of a full-length mirror. As with the shoulders, it's ideal if you can trace a horizontal line between these two points. For many people, though, one point will be lower or higher than the other. When your lower back is out of alignment, the angle of your pelvis can suffer. This can occur after a car accident, but it can also arise from other causes.

Knees

Although it's possible for one knee to appear higher than the other, look instead for one knee to be turned outward or inward. This isn't an issue that you might notice daily, but you should catch it when you're standing straight in front of a mirror. A knee that is turned outward or inward can lead to knee problems, and this issue can potentially result from a misaligned lower back. If you identify any of these symmetry-related issues, schedule an assessment with your local chiropractor, such as Gerleman Chiropractic Office.