How Can a Chiropractor Help Your Thyroid Conditions?

While a chiropractor can’t heal your thyroid condition, they can help improve your thyroid function by performing chiropractic techniques that balance the nervous system. If your nervous system is unhealthy or imbalanced, it can affect your entire body, including your thyroid gland.

Chiropractic care can help with all types of thyroid issues, such as hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Your chiropractor might prescribe spinal adjustments combined with physiotherapy techniques like massage to help your thyroid disorder.

Types of Thyroid Conditions That Could Benefit From Chiropractic Care

According to Cleveland Clinic, thyroid diseases are those that stop your body from producing the correct amount of hormones. The two main types of thyroid diseases are hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Several health conditions can lead to thyroid diseases, such as:

• Iodine deficiency or excessive iodine: Your thyroid gland can’t make thyroid hormones without iodine. Lack of iodine in your diet can cause hypothyroidism and goiter, which is an enlarged thyroid. On the other hand, too much iodine can cause your thyroid to produce more hormones than necessary.
• Hashimoto’s disease: This autoimmune disease can cause your thyroid to be under-active. Hashimoto’s disease is a leading cause of hypothyroidism in countries where iodine-filled foods are scarce.
• Grave’s disease: This disease causes your thyroid to be overactive.
• Thyroid nodules: Lumps on your thyroid gland that can cause hyperthyroidism.
• Thyroiditis: Swelling of your thyroid gland, which can cause both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.
• Postpartum thyroiditis: Usually temporary, this condition can affect you in the year after giving birth. While rare, some patients experience hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism caused by postpartum thyroiditis.

Thyroid Disease Symptoms That May Encourage You to Visit a Chiropractor

Thyroid disease can be difficult to diagnose, as your symptoms could be mistaken as those associated with other health conditions. The symptoms associated with hypothyroidism are opposite to those associated with hyperthyroidism. While both diseases affect your thyroid gland, hypothyroidism slows down your metabolism, while hyperthyroidism speeds it up.

Examples of symptoms associated with hyperthyroidism include:

• Rapid heart rate
• Weight loss
• Sweaty skin
• Feeling anxious or irritable
• Abnormal menstrual cycles
• Poor sleeping

Meanwhile, hypothyroidism is often characterized by:

• Slow heart rate
• Weight gain
• Dry skin or feeling cold
• Depression
• Heavy menstrual cycles
• Fatigue

Though these symptoms could be associated with several health conditions, it’s important to pay attention to any abnormal symptoms. Make sure you’re paying attention to any changes in your body and letting your doctor know as soon as possible.

Chiropractic and Physiotherapy Techniques Your Doctor Might Prescribe to Treat Your Thyroid Conditions

Chiropractors can prescribe a range of chiropractic adjustments and physiotherapy techniques to encourage healing in patients with thyroid conditions. Although a chiropractor can’t heal your thyroid condition or prescribe medication, they can offer the following services:

Chiropractic Adjustments

Patients with thyroid disease could benefit from chiropractic adjustments, which help restore nerve connection and promote whole-body healing. There are several types of chiropractic adjustments you can benefit from, including:

• Diversified adjustments: Your chiropractor will gently force your spinal column back into proper alignment.
• Knee-chest adjustments: If you’re experiencing an issue in your neck or upper back, your doctor may ask you to kneel with your chest against the exam table for a knee-chest adjustment.
• Lumbar side posture adjustments: These are performed when you are on your side with one leg bent in front of you. Your chiropractor will apply pressure at different angles to release tension in your lower back.
• Thompson drop-table technique: This technique uses a segmented table and helps your chiropractor apply the correct amount of force  to parts of your spine.
• Manual extremities adjustments: Your chiropractor will focus on your hips, knees, shoulders, ankles, elbows, or wrists.
• The activator method: Your doctor will use a high-velocity, low-amplitude (HVLA) tool to adjust specific areas.
• The flexion-distraction technique: This technique manipulates and decompresses your back to address disc pain. Your doctor makes space between disc openings to help relieve pinched nerve and herniated disc pain.
• Toggle recoil: Your doctor applies short, quick thrusts to your spinal cord.

Physiotherapy Techniques

Physiotherapy, or physical therapy, can also help patients with thyroid conditions. Some of the services your physical therapist could recommend include:

• Massage therapy: This helps encourage healing throughout your body by easing pain and muscle tension.
• Corrective care: Corrective care helps address chronic pain and recurrences of pain after you’ve been treated.
• Rehabilitation: If your thyroid issue took you away from your usual activities, rehabilitative therapy can help improve your mobility, muscle strength, and range of motion.
• Stretching and strength training: Similar to rehabilitative therapy, stretching and strength training can help improve your range of motion and muscle strength.
• Ultrasound therapy: This technique works similarly to massage therapy, except your doctor will use a machine that sends sound waves into your muscle tissue.
• Electrical muscle stimulation (E-STIM): Your physiotherapist will use a small tool to send electric pulses into your body to encourage healing and repair.

When you visit a chiropractic office, your doctors will assess your condition and prescribe a combination of chiropractic treatments and physical therapy services to help you feel better. Your customized treatment plan ensures you’re seeking care specific to your needs.

Call Specific Care Chiropractic for Help Treating Your Thyroid Conditions

If you’re dealing with any type of thyroid dysfunction, chiropractic care may benefit you. Our team at Specific Care Chiropractic can provide several different types of chiropractic care and physical therapy techniques. Our goal is to offer whole-body wellness by targeting the root cause of your discomfort, not just your symptoms.

To get started with our team, reach out to us today. One of our team members will take your call when you dial (239) 369-9109 to help you find an appointment time that works with your schedule. Don’t wait to seek relief from your discomfort. Call us today.