Do you have a muscle relaxant shortage?
A recent clinical research study was published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics that compared muscle spasm relief after taking a muscle relaxant, a placebo or a chiropractic adjustment. Not surprisingly, the chiropractic adjustment was more effective at relieving muscle spasm symptoms than either the medication or placebo pills. Why then do we reach for a bottle of medication when we have muscle pain?
Prescription muscle relaxants have a place in health care for the patient’s that really need them. But for the majority of us, our muscle spasm is a symptom of an underlying cause, whether that’s poor office ergonomics, stress or spinal dysfunction. To chemically mask these symptoms is asking for trouble — who knows how much you will injure yourself without your body’s own “warning system” of muscle spasm. In addition, most muscle relaxants cloud your thinking and can be habit forming. Who needs that?
So the next time you think about taking a muscle relaxant, think about what could be the cause of your symptoms and address it.