It seems farfetched that one could grow taller simply through chiropractic adjustments. In truth, chiropractic adjustments do not make you taller. That would be outrageous for several reasons. What chiropractic adjustments can do is fix your posture, which will make you appear taller when standing normally.
If you’re insecure about your height, which many men are, according to this Buzzfeed News article, chiropractic care is one way to gain a few inches. While results will vary by person, chiropractic adjustments are non-invasive medical procedures that can, aside from adjusting your posture, help with any musculoskeletal-related pain. Denver Chiropractic, a leading Denver area chiropractic office, is the go-to place for chiropractic adjustments and car accident injury treatment.
How Chiropractic Adjustments Make You Appear Taller
Chiropractic care is primarily seen as a way to alleviate back and neck pain, especially for those recovering from a car accident or workplace injury. That’s all true, but chiropractic adjustments provide additional benefits, such as fixing or improving your posture. Good posture can reduce back and neck-related pain and headaches.
Additionally, working on posture can lead to better form while you work out, an improved core, and an increased lung capacity, according to Healthline. As you grow older and the spine naturally shortens, it’s important to have a well-aligned spine to ensure that your back stays healthy for as long as possible.
Non-Chiropractic Alternatives To Improve Posture
There are several ways to improve posture. Doing posture-specific exercises is one low-effort way to improve your posture. The downside is that these exercises may be less effective unless you have professional guidance. Alternatively, there are posture-correcting devices that you can wear underneath your shirt to fix your posture. However, Consumer Reports states that the efficacy of these devices is very low despite several studies claiming the opposite — these studies weren’t well-conducted.
Chiropractic Adjustments
On the other hand, chiropractic adjustments administered by licensed chiropractors specifically target posture, making it the most effective way to improve your posture. Misalignment in the spine can cause you to hold your body in a way that makes you appear shorter.
Picture a straw of regular length. If you bend the straw forward, the straw will stand at a shorter length than before, although its actual length remains unchanged. All a chiropractor does is manipulate the spine by applying controlled pressure to certain points of the spine to fix the misalignment. If a chiropractor can correct this misalignment, you might stand more upright and thereby appear taller. This is not an increase in actual height but rather an optimization of the existing structure of your spine.
Spinal Decompression Therapy
Another chiropractic technique that can improve your posture is spinal decompression therapy. While primarily used to relieve pain, spinal decompression therapy temporarily decompresses the vertebrae, creating a little more space between them. It can make you appear taller.
There are several ways to administer spinal decompression. For patients with less than severe pain, non-surgical spinal decompression is available. A patient lays on a table and is fitted with a harness that slowly stretches the spine. This non-invasive therapy lasts up to 45 minutes and can require over two dozen sessions to take full effect. While it is time-consuming and can interfere with a patient’s daily responsibilities, patients are back on their feet immediately after each session.
Patients with severe back pain may need spinal decompression surgery. There are five of these surgeries all of which involve removing some part of the spine. There are complications associated with these types of surgeries, such as infection. Recovery times can last between a few days or a couple of months.
Whether you go with non-invasive spinal decompression therapy or surgery, this could make you feel or appear slightly taller immediately following treatment. Still, this change is transient and will usually revert back as the muscles, ligaments, and joints return to their natural positions. In other words, spinal decompression isn’t permanent, meaning any height advantages will eventually disappear.
Denver Integrated Spine — Your Guide to Better Posture
It’s important to note that while many people find relief from pain and other symptoms with chiropractic care, there are also risks involved. Manipulation of the spine can cause complications if not done correctly, so it’s vital to consult with a well-trained and licensed chiropractor. Making sure that your goals are in line with what chiropractic care can realistically achieve is crucial.
While a chiropractor may help you stand more erect by aligning your spine, this doesn’t equate to an increase in actual height. Any perceived increase in height from a chiropractic adjustment would likely be temporary or related to improved posture rather than a genuine change in stature. If height is a concern, understanding the underlying reasons and seeking appropriate avenues of support (such as counseling or physical therapy) might be more beneficial in the long run.
At Denver Integrated Spine, our expert chiropractors are trained in the latest chiropractic techniques. Whether you’re looking for pain relief, massage therapy, or help with your posture, we can help you. Upon your first visit, we’ll consult with you to come up with a customized treatment plan that addresses your problem areas. If you want to learn more about what we can do for you, contact us today, or schedule an appointment to start your treatment.