With the return of rain and colder weather, the likelihood of slips and falls increases. Worse yet, slippery roads create driving conditions that lead to more accidents.

Unfortunately, these wintertime hazards often result in injuries to the musculoskeletal system (skeletal frame, joints, muscles, ligaments and other connective tissues) that pills do not address. Bodywork, including massage therapy, physical therapy and chiropractic adjustments, is most effective in correcting the underlying injuries and helps the body to heal properly. Just like putting a cast on a broken bone can help broken bones mend properly, appropriately applied bodywork will help musculoskeletal injuries heal quickly and optimally. Uncorrected, these injuries can results in accelerated degeneration and ongoing problems of the joints and connective tissues.

Colds and Flus

Have you noticed that some people get almost every cold or flu that comes along and others hardly ever get sick, even in the same family? What we know about catching a cold or flu, is that it is not a matter of luck, but of immune system function. Those who “catch” less colds and flus have a better functioning immune system. This again is not a matter of luck.

One primary means of enhancing the immune system is to reduce stress in the body. When the body is under stress, immune function is reduced. The most critical stress on the immune system is stress to the nervous system. The nervous system and immune system work together to create optimal immune responses. Neural dysfunctions due to spinal misalignments are stressful to the body and lead to a poorly coordinated immune response.

Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to reduce stress on the nervous system and boost the coordinated responses of the nervous system and immune system.

• Dr. Scott A. Massengill practices at Straight Chiropractic, North Bend.

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