Magnesium
What is a supplement that would be useful to take? A common question that is asked in office.
Magnesium: A mineral that is more important for the human musculoskeletal system and nervous system than you could imagine. A recommended daily amount of magnesium an individual should be consuming is 400-600 mg daily at night. Why do I take this mineral at night? Taking magnesium at night allows the body to use the minerals relaxing properties. Living in a highly stressed world the relaxing properties of the mineral may help promote better sleep which helps calm the nervous system, relax muscles, and help reduce anxiety.
Other Benefits of Magnesium:
- Can support Blood Flow & Brain Function
- Helps to Maintain Bone Health
- May Improve Headaches
Why do Chiropractors and Nutritionists recommend Magnesium?
Magnesium is the super mineral or is it because it regulates more than one body system. A patient who can present in the office with a chief complaint of neck pain that refers into their upper back complains his back is tight, achy and they’re stressed. Adjustments have been helping but the tightness and achiness in his muscles, but the pain has not gone away. Pain may still be present since the patient is stressed.
Stress plays a role in pain and the autonomic nervous system regulation. Magnesium decreases the “fight or flight” known as the stress response. When we are going through a stress response it increases a stress hormone called cortisol in our body. Increased cortisol increases muscle tightness.2 Cortisol binds to our motor receptors in our muscles causing the muscles to over fire. Magnesium counteracts to the response by intersecting with our nerves to decrease the overstimulated fight or flight/cortisol response by releasing sodium and potassium which stops the nerves from firing. To then relax. Over firing nerves means over tense musculature, known as hypertonicity.3
Where do these over firing muscles usually exist in a stress response?
In our Neck and in our Upper Back. What do they possibly cause in patients; neck pain, upper back pain, radicular pain, poor posture, sprain of joints or strain of muscle for overcompensating, or possibly lead to upper crossed syndrome. Those who suffer from high stress responses may suffer from anxiety, depression, fatigue, and may face stressful everyday interactions that cause them to tense up. Muscles that are commonly involved to be right due to over firing from a stress response are the trapezius, levator scapulae, deep neck musculature, suboccipital muscles. All muscles that originate and insert in the neck or back.
How do these muscles relax again?
By helping calm down the central nervous systems via chiropractic adjustments, postural management and rehabilitation.