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Dancing: The perfect complement to chiropractic treatment

Usually, chiropractors prescribe home exercise as part of their management plan. Advice concerning home exercise was equally associated with positive outcomes. The lack of patient engagement in prescribed exercise is one of the main limiting factors in its potential efficacy in treating musculoskeletal conditions. 

Health not only means the “absence of illness”, but a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. As is well known, the importance of engaging in regular physical exercise is ideal to prevent chronic diseases and improve psychological well-being and overall quality of life. 

Putting on “the well-being shoes”

If you’re not a fan of going to the gym or don’t feel like running, it would be a good time to try a new form of exercise: dancing. A worldwide human activity that integrates the coordination of intentional body movements, performed in synchronization and rhythm together in the presence of oneself or other individuals.

Dancing gets the heart pumping, making it a great cardio workout. It also helps with balance and strength as it involves using muscles that might not be activated in other kinds of physical activity. 

Additionally, this kind of whole-body exercise has potentially positive effects on well-being. Practicing showed beneficial effects related to the emotional, physical, social, and spiritual dimensions, resulting in good self-esteem.

There are countless styles of dance, as well as other forms of fitness that can go hand in hand with dance classes. In addition, since dancing is mostly done in a social context, music facilitates the coordination and regulation of movements in time with other individuals. It helps those who practice it to maintain social relationships and strengthen bonds among them, resulting in the creation and maintenance of communities.  

Dancing helps to reduce body pain as well as helping in dealing with physical impairments. Therefore, dancing may serve as an alternative treatment to improve physical function in people suffering from mobility impairments such as Parkinson’s disease and arthritis. It can also be used as a way to cope with daily stress and relax after a long day. 

Safety goes first

As with any physical activity, dancing can cause injuries, and it is important to be aware of them and follow the recommendations provided by experts like instructors and physicians to avoid them. 

One of the main considerations to have while dancing is positioning. Many dance positions involve moving the body in a way that may not feel natural or comfortable at first. 

Dance is a whole-body exercise; it is common to feel sore after the first dance class, especially in the hips and knees. 

Talk to your chiropractor about how to make sure that dancing is a healthy activity for you. Contact Miami Chiropractor Michael P. Newman (D.C., P.A.), who was the company doctor for the Momentum Dance Company along with the FIU Dance Department and has plenty of experience treating dancers’ injuries.  

Dr. Newman has successfully helped patients for over 40 years. Call for your appointment today at 305-666-1402.

References:

• C. (2022, June 17). Put On Your Dancing Shoes. ACA Hands Down Better. Retrieved July 13, 2022, from https://handsdownbetter.org/put-on-your-dancing-shoes/
• Newell, D., & MChiro, R. B. (2012). Increasing compliance toward home exercise in chiropractic patients using SMS texting: A pilot study. Clinical Chiropractic, 15(3–4), 107–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clch.2012.10.042
• Quiroga Murcia, C., Kreutz, G., Clift, S., & Bongard, S. (2010). Shall we dance? An exploration of the perceived benefits of dancing on well-being. Arts & Health, 2(2), 149–163. https://doi.org/10.1080/17533010903488582