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Chiropractic Care for Stomach Problems

Published Date: 
January 20, 2023
Categories:
A woman is clutching her stomach because of stomach pain.

Stomach problems interfere with everyday life. If you’re looking for a way to ease pain and other stomach complaints, chiropractic care can help.

Common Causes of Stomach Pain

A wide range of factors, including dietary issues, certain health conditions, and types of medication, can cause stomach pain. Some of the most common causes include: 

  • Food poisoning
  • Indigestion
  • Constipation or diarrhea
  • Peptic ulcers (sores in the lining of the stomach)
  • Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining)
  • GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) or hiatal hernia
  • Stomach cancer

The Spine’s Connection to the Stomach

The spine plays a crucial role in the functioning of your stomach and can cause pain and discomfort if it is not aligned correctly. When the spine is out of alignment, it can put extra pressure on the muscles and ligaments that support the stomach, causing pain and discomfort in this area. This can also make digestion more difficult by restricting proper blood flow to the stomach muscles and digestion organs. 

To prevent these problems, maintain a healthy posture by minimizing stress on your spine and keeping it properly aligned.

a woman is struggling with stomach pain.

Why Visiting a Chiropractor Can Relieve Your Stomach Pain

There are a few possible explanations for why some people experience relief from stomach pain after visiting a chiropractor. Chiropractic adjustments may target the root cause of your stomach pain, like inflammation or muscle spasms in your gut. By realigning your spine and other joints, chiropractic treatment may improve the health of your nervous system overall, which could impact how your stomach functions. Additionally, some people report experiencing a sense of relaxation after receiving chiropractic care, which may help to relieve stress-related stomach pain.

A chiropractor is treating a woman for stomach pain.

Benefits of Seeing a Chiropractor for Stomach Pain

There are many benefits to seeing a chiropractor for your stomach pain. 

For example, chiropractors can help to improve your digestive system and relieve any blockages in your digestive tract that may be causing your stomach pain. They can also provide nutritional advice that will help to strengthen your immune system, which makes it easier for you to fight infection and inflammation

Chiropractic care can also help relieve tension in your stomach muscles, improving digestion and reducing pain.

FAQ

Can a chiropractor help IBS?

Many people with IBS are interested in trying alternative treatments like chiropractic care to find relief from their symptoms. Chiropractors use spinal manipulation to help relieve musculoskeletal pain and tension, which is often connected to IBS. 

Some believe there is a link between chiropractic therapy and improved symptoms of IBS. However, further research is needed to determine whether chiropractic therapy can help people with IBS.

Can a chiropractor help a bloated stomach?

Yes, a chiropractor can help with a bloated stomach. Chiropractic treatments involve manipulating the spine and other joints to relieve tension and improve circulation throughout the body. This can affect your digestive system and may be able to ease bloating by reducing pressure on the intestines.

A chiropractor is treating a man for stomach problems.

Can spinal misalignment cause bloating?

Yes, spinal misalignment can cause bloating in many ways. First, if the spine is out of alignment, it can impact the function of the digestive organs located near the spine and contribute to bloating. For example, if one or more vertebrae are out of alignment, this may affect the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is responsible for signaling the digestive organs to contract and release, which can lead to bloating in some people.

Additionally, if a spinal misalignment is causing pain or pressure in other areas of the body, this may also contribute to bloating. For example, if a person's spine is out of alignment in their lower back, this may cause pressure and pain to radiate into the abdomen. This can lead to bloating as well.

What vertebrae controls the stomach?

The vertebrae in the lower back and upper abdomen are known as the lumbar region. The lumbar vertebrae control many muscles, nerves, and organs in the stomach and surrounding areas.

The primary job of these vertebrae is to support our body weight while standing upright, allowing us to engage in daily tasks such as walking, running, and lifting heavy items.

These vertebrae also control the movements of many important organs in the lower abdomen and upper pelvis region, including the stomach, liver, and intestines. These organs help us digest our food and expel waste from our bodies, which is essential to maintaining good health.

Can being out of alignment cause stomach problems?

Yes, problems with spinal alignment can cause stomach problems.

Several factors can affect the alignment of your spine and lead to stomach issues, including poor posture, weight gain or loss, and stress. In particular, your pelvis's imbalances may strain your abdominal muscles and organs.

Can a misaligned spine cause bowel problems?

A misaligned spine can cause various bowel problems, including constipation, diarrhea, and even irritable bowel syndrome. The nerves that control your digestion pass through the vertebrae in your spine. When your vertebrae are misaligned or aren't moving properly, they can put pressure on these nerves, disrupting your digestive function. If you're experiencing bowel problems that don't have an obvious cause, it's worth getting your spine checked by a chiropractor to see if they can do something to alleviate it.

Can a chiropractic adjustment affect your bowels?

The short answer to this question is yes – chiropractic adjustments can affect your bowels by either improving regularity or causing diarrhea.

Chiropractic adjustments help improve the mobility of joints in the spine and other areas of the body, which can then impact how well your digestive tract muscles contract and relax. This improved functioning can result in more regular bowel movements, which is good if you struggle with constipation.

However, the opposite – altered bowel function after an adjustment – may also occur. For example, there may be some cases where patients experience an increase in diarrhea or loose stools after visiting a chiropractor.

Can spinal misalignment cause constipation?

Yes. Spinal misalignment is a common condition that can cause many symptoms, including constipation. The spinal column plays a vital role in the body's digestive system. Misalignment or compression of the spine can affect nerve signaling to and from the digestive organs, leading to irregular bowel movements and constipation. Many different treatment options are available for addressing spinal misalignment and its negative effects, including chiropractic care, physical therapy, and massage therapy.

Can chiropractic help gastritis?

Gastritis is a condition characterized by inflammation and irritation of the stomach lining. Spinal adjustments may help alleviate certain types of pain associated with this condition, such as back and neck pain. Your doctor might recommend using chiropractic care with dietary and lifestyle changes, medications, and other types of therapy to treat gastritis.

Dr. Darren Faherty D.C.

In 2004, Dr. Darren Faherty graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Biology from UWEC - University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. Dr. Darren continued education at the highly esteemed University of Western States (formerly Western States Chiropractic College) where he obtained his chiropractic degree in 2007. He has been helping people recover from injuries and return to their normal lifestyles ever since.

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