Caring for Healthcare Workers One Adjustment at a Time

Vaccine rollouts mean life is slowly returning to something resembling normal. But for healthcare workers, high stress levels and hectic schedules aren’t going anywhere any time soon. Their busy days are often draining physically, mentally, and emotionally. When they do have a chance for rest and self-care, it’s important to spend time doing things which recharge and rejuvenate on multiple levels. For many people, chiropractic treatment can do just that.

We describe healthcare workers, especially nurses, as working tirelessly on our behalf. But after more than a year of COVID-19, they’re EXTREMELY tired and that can lead to accident, injury, or pain. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics explains that “Many of the approximately three million RNs working across all industries face workplace hazards in performing their routine duties. RNs spend time walking, bending, stretching, and standing (exposing themselves to possible fatigue, as well as slips, trips, and falls); often lift and move patients (becoming vulnerable to back injuries); and come into contact with potentially harmful and hazardous substances, including drugs, diseases, radiation, accidental needlesticks, and chemicals used for cleaning (which can cause exposure-related injuries and illnesses).”

Exhaustion and stress take a physical toll on our bodies. They can cause muscle tension, high blood pressure, aches and pains, and a variety of uncomfortable symptoms. One way to address these can be through chiropractic care.

Add to that the mental and emotional pressures of a global pandemic. These can lead to what is now being called Compassion Fatigue. Educators describe it as “a misunderstood problem. Too often, it is confused with burnout, which can misinterpret the causes of the issue and muddle the conversation about how to get out from under it. Let’s set the record straight before going any further: Compassion fatigue is best described as the cost of caring. It is the mental and emotional distress that can follow when healthcare professionals connect and empathize with patients. Burnout, on the other hand, deals squarely with work environment and the factors that tie into it, such as job satisfaction.”

Exhaustion and stress take a physical toll on our bodies. They can cause muscle tension, high blood pressure, aches and pains, and a variety of uncomfortable symptoms. One way to address these can be through chiropractic care.

Healthline explains that visits to a chiropractor may ease back and neck pain, relieve headaches, improve balance and posture, and all without the use of pain relievers and medication. In one patient study “92 percent of the people…had improvements in their pain, and 80 percent reported improvements in their ability to move around.”

Mental health professionals also show that chiropractic care’s “mind-body approach…can reduce blood pressure and stress symptoms. High blood pressure is a common symptom of anxiety and/or stress.” This is partly because “after getting a chiropractic adjustment, your body triggers an increase in hormones such as neurotensin, oxytocin, and cortisol. These hormones are involved in positive nervous system functioning.”

Exhaustion and stress take a physical toll on our bodies. They can cause muscle tension, high blood pressure, aches and pains, and a variety of uncomfortable symptoms. One way to address these can be through chiropractic care.

Best yet—for some of us at least—is that chiropractic treatments have been shown to aid healthy sleep patterns. Overwork, worry, anxiety, and exhaustion aren’t conducive to restful nights. But studies show that treatment, especially when paired with massage therapy, can lead to more restful sleep.

At Family & Sports Chiropractic Clinic, Dr. Henderson is skilled at asking the right questions to get to the root of your issue, whether it’s ongoing or recent. She takes a whole-body approach that strives to treat “the whole patient, not just covering up symptoms.” Patient questions, concerns, and goals are discussed because “the better you know your body, the healthier you can be.”

The month of May is home to National Nurses Day. The theme for 2021 is A Vision for Future Healthcare and was intentionally chosen as a way that “reflects on the impact of COVID-19 on the health system and the nursing profession and how these might be affected into the future,” say founders from the International Council of Nurses. “Nurses, as the largest healthcare profession, must play an integral part in planning the future of healthcare.”

If you know a dedicated nurse, be sure to reach out during this hectic time and let them know how much you care. Send a socially distanced greeting, treat them to something special, or write a quick note of thanks. After 14 unprecedented months, they’re sure to appreciate the pick-me-up.

And if you or someone you love would benefit from a visit with Dr. Henderson and her team, don’t hesitate. Give their office a call at 360-254-0400 or book a consultation online today. Let her help your body unclench, relax, and return to a healthy, balanced, stronger YOU. That way you’ll be more than ready to face whatever new normal is around the corner.