Stress and Tension: What Can Chiropractic Do?

What is stress and tension complaints?

Stress is a normal reaction of the body to pressure or danger. It only becomes a problem when the tension continues: then physical complaints can arise, called tension complaints. Tense shoulders, a stiff neck, a nagging back, and headache are common ways ongoing stress shows up. Being overstrained or having a burnout is more than physical tension: it is serious and can require the GP or a psychologist, as Thuisarts also emphasises.

You can visit Embody Health Chiropractie without a referral from your GP; your first visit costs €39. After an intake and a full check you know immediately what the tension does to your posture and spine and whether chiropractic care can help you. Most Dutch health insurers (partially) reimburse chiropractic care from the supplementary package, often without touching your deductible. We do advise you to contact your GP first if you are in doubt or have unexplained complaints.

With our teams in Alphen aan den Rijn, Amersfoort, and Rotterdam we have helped more than 2500 people with tension and overload complaints over 12 years; our average Google rating is 4.9 out of 5.

Symptoms of stress and tension

Stress shows itself differently in everyone, but the physical tension has a clear pattern. Do you recognize one or more of the following complaints?

• tense shoulders and a stiff neck, as if the muscles will not let go
• headache or a pressing feeling, often starting from the neck
• nagging pain in the lower back or between the shoulder blades
• a stiff or cracking feeling when moving, especially after sitting still for a long time
• a tense jaw, clenching, or teeth grinding, often at night
• fatigue, sleeping poorly, and trouble truly relaxing

Causes of ongoing tension

The physical tension with stress rarely comes from one thing. Usually several factors work together, all leaving their traces in the neck, shoulders, and back:

• Ongoing stress: with long-lasting tension the nervous system stays in a vigilant state, so muscles remain tightened.
• Sitting for long periods: hours behind a desk, phone, or steering wheel put extra pressure on the neck, shoulders, and lower back.
• A tense posture: raised shoulders or a forward head posture strengthen the tension on the spine.
• High work pressure or a difficult period: worrying, concerns, and deadlines keep the body unknowingly in top gear.
• Too little movement: little variety makes muscles stiff and short, so tension is less easily released.

Our first step: together we find the right help

A careful screening is part of every first visit with us, and it starts with the question which help fits best. A burnout and ongoing stress can require professional help, and we honestly look together with you at which step fits best: physical care with us, the GP or a psychologist, or a combination — we guide you through that. We also always screen for serious signals that need immediate medical assessment, such as severe exhaustion with chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, or fainting, or a sudden panic attack with tingling, paralysis symptoms, or difficulty speaking. Where the GP or psychologist is the better step, you will hear it from us honestly; where chiropractic can support the physical tension, our door is open.

Chiropractic treatment for tension complaints

Chiropractors are university-trained specialists in the interaction between the spine and the nervous system, exactly the place where tension settles. A Cochrane review of manipulation and mobilisation for neck complaints shows that this approach can reduce pain and improve mobility. Research into an effect of spinal manipulation on the autonomic nervous system itself is mixed: some studies see an effect of cervical manipulation on the parasympathetic system, but the evidence is limited. That is why we are honest: chiropractic care focuses on the physical tension, not on the psychological side of stress.

Our approach focuses on the physical part of your recovery, alongside the care you may already receive from the GP or psychologist. During your first visit we map your complaints extensively: your posture, the mobility of your neck and back, and the tension in your muscles. With gentle, precise corrections we restore the mobility of restrictions, so the muscles in the neck and shoulders remain less tense. Afterwards you get personal advice about posture at the desk, movement in between, and simple ways to let your body relax in between. If the tension comes from a period of burnout, we align our care with the guidance you receive elsewhere.

Your first visit costs €39; a single follow-up consultation costs €65 and a consultation in a recovery package €55. Check what your health insurance covers and the prices.

What you can do yourself with tension?

Moving is one of the best ways to release tension: walking, cycling, or sports helps the muscles relax and supports recovery. Build in rest moments, watch your sleep, and alternate screen time with movement. Whatever you notice: talk about it with someone you trust, and do not hesitate to ask your GP if the tension or complaints persist.