December Newsletter: The Benefits of Combining Chiropractic Care and Stretching

Spinal Decompression from Our Chiropractor near You in Winter Park, FL

If you have back or neck pain, the conditions can reduce your range of motion and prevent you from participating in your favorite activities. At Lions Chiropractic & Injury in Winter Park, FL, we offer various treatments, including spinal decompression, to reduce your discomfort and improve your overall health. Before you schedule your appointment, keep reading to learn more about this treatment!

How Spinal Decompression Works

This therapy involves the use of a specialized decompression table that applies controlled traction to the spine. The gentle stretching reduces pressure on spinal discs, allowing bulging or herniated discs to retract. This process also increases blood flow and nutrient exchange, which supports the body’s natural healing response.

Conditions That Benefit from Spinal Decompression

Spinal decompression is commonly used to treat a variety of conditions affecting the back and neck. Many patients find relief from chronic pain and mobility issues caused by pressure on the spine. Common conditions that respond well to this treatment include:

Herniated or Bulging Discs – Reducing pressure on the discs helps them return to their normal position.

Sciatica – Relieving nerve compression can ease pain that radiates down the legs.

Degenerative Disc Disease – Creating space between the vertebrae can slow disc deterioration.

Chronic Back or Neck Pain – Stretching the spine alleviates tension and improves flexibility.

What to Expect During Treatment

A session typically lasts between 15 and 30 minutes. Patients lie on a motorized table while our chiropractor adjusts the traction to target specific areas of the spine. The treatment is gentle and relaxing, with most patients experiencing little to no discomfort. Several sessions may be needed to achieve lasting relief and maintain spinal health.

Contact Lions Chiropractic & Injury for an Appointment Today

If you’re considering spinal decompression, contact Lions Chiropractic & Injury in Winter Park, FL, at (407) 951-5500 today. Our team is ready to answer any questions you have and assist with scheduling your appointment. When you need a trusted chiropractor near you, our team is here to help!

The Benefits of Combining Chiropractic Care and Stretching

Is stretching part of your daily routine? If you receive chiropractic treatments, stretching could enhance the effectiveness of your treatment, increase your flexibility, and reduce your pain. The combination offers many benefits, including these important advantages:

Longer-Lasting Treatment Effects

Stretching could extend the positive effects of your chiropractic treatment. Spinal adjustments correct misalignments, or subluxations, in the vertebrae in your spine.

Misaligned vertebrae increase tension on back and neck muscles. Spinal manipulation treatments not only move your vertebrae back into their normal positions but also ease pressure on tight muscles, helping them relax.

Although your muscles may initially be looser after a visit to the chiropractor, stress or poor posture can cause them to tighten again. Tight muscles can pull your vertebrae out of alignment, causing a new subluxation. Regular stretching keeps muscles loose and flexible and prevents new subluxations.

Better Flexibility

Flexible joints and muscles are necessary for bending, reaching, turning your head at a stop sign, and even tying your shoes. Muscle strains and sprains due to flexibility issues can happen whether your play sports or reach deep inside the dishwasher to retrieve a dropped spoon.

Chiropractic treatments, like adjustments and massage therapy, improve range of motion and flexibility. Unfortunately, your daily activities can decrease flexibility and diminish your treatment gains. If your job involves sitting, muscles in your legs, neck, shoulders, and back may feel a little tight at the end of the day. Luckily, following a daily stretching routine will keep muscles and tissues flexible between treatments.

Less Pain

Treatments ease pain by realigning vertebrae and joints, relaxing tight muscles and tissues, and easing painful pressure on nerves. During your visit to the chiropractic office, your chiropractor may recommend stretches that improve flexibility while reducing pain.

If neck pain is a problem, the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association recommends stretching your neck muscles with head nods. Perform this stretch by lowering your chin toward your chest, then slowly raising your chin toward the ceiling.

Stretching offers proven pain-relief results. According to review published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology in 2025, stretching can ease pain by improving range of motion and decreasing muscle stiffness. The review noted that reducing muscle stiffness could also reduce pressure on nerves.

Improved Posture

Chiropractic treatments restore proper alignment to your spine, making it easier to maintain good posture. Daily stretches loosen and strengthen the muscles that support your bones and may prevent new posture issues. Strong muscles also help you avoid injuries that can occur due to posture-related muscle imbalances.

Reduced Stress

Tight, painful muscles in the neck, shoulders, and upper back are an uncomfortable reminder of a stressful day. Chiropractic treatments relax muscles and tissues and prompt your body to release endorphins and serotonin. The hormones ease pain, calm your mind, and improve your mood. Stretching also increases production of endorphins and can help you continue to enjoy the sense of calm you felt when you left the chiropractor's office.

If you don't stretch regularly, your muscles and tissues could tighten due to stress even if you recently visited the chiropractor. Stretching offers a simple way to maintain the stress-busting benefits of chiropractic treatment.

Increase Blood Flow

Your blood contains oxygen and nutrients that nourish your body and help it repair itself. Chiropractic treatments improve circulation, which may help reduce inflammation and improve nerve function. Stretching also improves circulation and can help you maximize the effects of your treatments.

Need to make an appointment with the chiropractor? During your visit, we'll show you helpful stretches that support your treatments. Contact our office to schedule your appointment.

Sources:

The National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association: The Top 5 Stretches for Neck Pain Relief, 8/19/2020

https://nucca.org/the-top-5-stretches-for-neck-pain-relief/

European Journal of Applied Physiology: The Effects of Chronic Stretch Training on Musculoskeletal Pain, 3/9/2025

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00421-025-05747-9

Harvard Health Publishing: The Importance of Stretching, 4/17/2024

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-importance-of-stretching

Mayo Clinic: Stretching: Focus on Flexibility, 11/18/2023

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/stretching/art-20047931