Chiropractic + Wellness

Musicians put their bodies through a lot. They practice for hours and hours, engage their bodies in repetitive motions, and perform remarkable shows.

• For example, a pianist will sit or stand at a piano or keyboard, often in the same position for hours. 
• A clarinet player must keep their head, neck, and jaw in a precise position in order to play properly. 
• A guitarist must sit for long periods while holding the guitar in a certain position while moving their fingers over the frets in a very precise manner.

It's no wonder that many musicians complain of headaches, migraines, carpal tunnel, clicking jaw, numbness in the fingers, and back and neck pain!

Some of this pain can be debilitating and make it more difficult for them to perform their normal activities. Many live with chronic pain.

There was a time when these conditions were considered to be just a part of playing an instrument and the musician would push through the pain. However, many are turning to chiropractic and are enjoying not only a pain-free life but improved performance as well.

How Playing an Instrument Affects the Body

Some doctors liken musicians to athletes – instrumental athletes. They do have very similar practices such as practicing for hours a day so that they can perfect their abilities and skills. And like athletes, they also experience certain break downs within the body.

Posture is a common malady as the musician may stand or sit a certain way in order to play their instrument. This prolonged activity can lead to imbalances in the spine, pelvis, and other parts of the body.

When the body is not in balance, it cannot function as it should. Organs are affected and other the body may try to make accommodations for the imbalance which only exacerbates the problem.

This is further compounded each time the musician plays their instrument because by doing so they are consistently underworking and overworking certain muscles. This can lead to further imbalance.

The muscles that are worked, the ones used to play the instrument, get shorter, tighter, and stronger as scar tissue forms. By contrast, the underworked muscle groups stay underdeveloped and get weak. This muscular imbalance puts a great deal of stress on the spine and other joints in the body like the fingers, wrists, and elbows.

They may also experience Repetitive Strain Injury or RSI. This condition is often quite painful and is concentrated in the soft tissues, nerves, tendons, and muscles.

These areas may become painful or inflamed when performing repetitive activities, pressing against hard surfaces, vibrations, awkward sustained positions, and forceful exertions. This causes the body to become out of alignment but also impacts the function of the skeletal system, nervous system, and muscular system.

Chiropractic Treatment

Chiropractors are very good for musicians because the can assess misalignments in their spine and make adjustments. When proper original alignment is stored to the body, it begins to function properly. This leads to a decrease in pain and other symptoms that may be experienced due to the long hours of playing an instrument.

Musicians also benefit from chiropractic because it can make them better at what they do. When the pain is decreased or eliminated and the other symptoms are relieved, it is easier to play.

When the spine is in proper alignment and the body is balanced, the musician will experience a boost in energy, their muscles will not fatigue as quickly, and their muscles will be more relaxed. With all those benefits, it’s no wonder that chiropractors and musicians make beautiful music together.

Chiropractic Care For Migraines El Paso, TX

Stenosing tenosynovitis, also known as “trigger finger,” is a repetitive strain injury that is one of the most common injuries in the workplace. It is marked by one finger or thumb that is stuck in a bent position and pops or snaps when straightened. The cause is an inflamed or irritated flexor tendon.

As it slides through the sheath tunnel, the back and forth motion creates irritation which can lead to thickening of the tendon and even the formation of nodules. This can impede its movement through the sheath which can also thicken so that the opening that the tendon slides through becomes smaller.

What are the symptoms of trigger finger?

A person that has trigger finger may experience several symptoms in one or more fingers or thumb including:

• Pain when straightening or bending the finger
• Swelling
• A lump in the palm that is tender
• The finger or thumb joints have a popping or catching sensation
• Stiffness
• The impaired tendon may suddenly break free causing the finger to snap straight or feel like it is dislocating

Some symptoms, like the stiffness, popping, and catching, may be more pronounced after periods of inactivity. The patient may find that upon waking they have difficulty, but as they move their fingers they loosen, and the symptoms aren’t as cause. In severe cases, the patient is unable to straighten their finger, even with help. 

What causes trigger finger?

Many times the cause of trigger finger is not known. They may notice a gradual decline or they may wake up one day and experience symptoms. There are certain health conditions and circumstances that put some patients at a higher risk of developing trigger finger:

• Men tend to get trigger finger more than women do
• The most common age group for trigger finger is between 40 and 60 years old
• It is prevalent in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and other medical conditions
• Repetitive hand motions such as typing, gripping power tools, or playing video games
• Activities where the hands are in constant repetitive action

What are the treatments for trigger finger?

There are surgical and nonsurgical treatments for trigger finger, depending on the severity of the condition. When the symptoms are mild, the patient may be advised to, rest the finger and take over the counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or cause to help reduce inflammation and minimize pain. The patient may also wear a splint to facilitate the resting position of the finger better.

In some cases, the doctor may advise steroid injections administered directly into the tendon sheath to correct the problem. Sometimes this procedure only provides temporary relief and requires a second injection. If the condition shows no improvement after the second injection, the patient may be advised to undergo surgery. If the patient has had trigger finger for a long time or if they have a medical condition such as diabetes, injections are not likely to be as, or a permanent solution.

Some patients undergo surgery to correct trigger finger. The is purely elective since the condition is not considered dangerous. The operation opens the tendon sheath, the tunnel that the tendon slides through, to move easier. It is usually done on an outpatient basis.

Chiropractic for trigger finger

• Two chiropractic treatments for trigger finger:
• Active Release Technique (ART)
• Graston technique
• Studies have found these chiropractic techniques to be very useful in treating trigger finger.

An instrument based soft tissue therapy may also be used to help reduce tension in the muscles around the area. Chiropractors typically use a whole-body approach to help the patient achieve relief and healing. They recognize that most conditions are not limited to only what appears to be the affected area so they will employ techniques that treat the associated regions of the body as well, which, provides the patient with more reliable relief without the use of invasive procedures. Chiropractic is a practical, natural way to treat trigger finger.

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