Your musculoskeletal system is the group of body systems that work together to allow you to move. This includes your skeleton, plus your muscles. It also includes the connective tissues that your body needs to be able to move around. This includes things like tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and your joints. Most of the time, this system works in relatively perfect harmony. You move around, and it does not hurt. Some of the time, however, that is not the case. Typically, this means that you go through your day in some type of pain. Thankfully, you do not have to live with chronic discomfort or pain when you have a problem with your musculoskeletal system.
What Job Does the Musculoskeletal System Have?
There are two main jobs of the musculoskeletal system. First, it helps provide the stability you need to move around and function. This means all systems being able to work together to allow you to do things like walk, eat, drive, and exercise. If these systems were not in place, you would basically be unable to move or do anything for yourself. Each of these systems must work together in the right order, and with the right force, for you to be able to move around.
The second responsibility your musculoskeletal system has is to protect the inside of your body. Your internal organs, and the rest of your insides are soft. They need your skeleton and muscles to keep them safe. The more you move around, the more at risk those softer parts of your body become. By having strong muscles and bones, things like gently falling down or bumping into things will not harm the inside of your body. What you want is a strong musculoskeletal system. This helps you move around without pain, plus it keeps you safer in the event of an accident of any kind.
How Can Your Musculoskeletal System Not Work Properly?
When your musculoskeletal system is not functioning properly, it leads to pain. You can get any part of your musculoskeletal system out of alignment through a wide variety of things. Injuries to your joints, muscles, or skeleton can lead to these problems. So can things like arthritis. Even using one joint for a repetitive motion can cause problems. Jobs where you must repeat the same movement a lot, often lead to issues with the musculoskeletal system.
Truckers must shift regularly, which can wear on their shoulder or elbow. Their ankles often have issues as well from the repetitive motion of accelerating and braking. Tennis and baseball players swing a racket or bat over and over, also hurting their shoulder or elbow joints. Often, their knees and ankles have issues as well due to their rapid stopping and starting of their movements. Those who work on an assembly line often have problems with their backs from leaning over. Whether they sit or stand, their back is repeatedly put under stress from them having to lean. This can lead to problems with their back, neck, and even down into their legs.
What Types of Pain Should One Expect with a Malfunctioning Musculoskeletal System?
There are quite a few types of pain that commonly come along with musculoskeletal system problems. This can include struggles with back pain, because your back is the main part of your body structure. It can also include things like neck pain, knee pain, elbow or shoulder pain, or even things like ankle or wrist pain. Each joint has the potential to hurt when your musculoskeletal system is not lined up properly. The more those joints are used after the misalignment, the more pain you could experience.
The pain following musculoskeletal system problems varies greatly. Some people notice a bit of stiffness and discomfort when they get out of bed each day. Other people notice that their quality of life declines, either rapidly or slowly, due to their pain. No matter which category you find yourself in, there is help out there. No one has to live with pain or discomfort from a misalignment of their musculoskeletal system. It just takes knowing what type of help is out there to bring you relief. By getting the problem fixed, the pain can go away. If you leave the pain thinking it will get better on its own, you are likely to make it worse.
What Treatment Options Do You Have When Your Musculoskeletal System Is Not Functioning Properly?
There are quite a few options that can help bring down your pain level following a problem with your musculoskeletal system. The best option following any type of injury is physical therapy. This allows your body to slowly heal while rebuilding the strength it needs to correct the misalignment. You will be taught how to go through and move properly again. You must go through each movement carefully and slowly. The point is to concentrate each movement and go through it slowly so that it is done properly. If you were to do any of the movements improperly, it could cause problems as your body tries to heal.
Another option when you struggle with the misalignment of your musculoskeletal system is a chiropractic adjustment. This is when you see a chiropractor and they manipulate your musculoskeletal system back into a normal alignment. Chiropractors go through extensive education to learn how to carefully manipulate the body. They understand the nervous system very deeply, so they can take areas of your body that are out of alignment, and fix them. However, each movement only does so much. You must get regular adjustments if you want the pain from your musculoskeletal system problems to stay away.
