Every day, we unknowingly subject our bodies to a lot of stress, including physical labor, long hours of standing, and wrong sitting postures. Unfortunately, such stress can have a detrimental effect on our spines and joints and even lead to immune deficiencies. Chiropractic adjustments of the spine and joints are aimed at alleviating misalignments to not only influence the nervous system but also your overall health. Proper manipulation of other parts of the body like bones and legs can also alleviate pain in those areas and boost the overall health of the patient.

What Is Chiropractic Adjustment?

Chiropractic adjustment involves the manipulation of the vertebrae that might not be functioning normally or show abnormal movement patterns. The objective of chiropractic adjustment is to reduce the subluxaction, which translates to an increased range of motion, improved function, and reduced nerve irritability.

What to Expect During Chiropractic Adjustment Treatment

Like other medical appointments, you will be asked about your problem and any other important information that can aid the treatment process. In particular, the chiropractor will review your medical history, conduct a physical examination of areas of your body with problems, and possibly use medical imaging and other techniques to confirm the diagnosis.

You will be required to lie down on a chiropractic adjustment table as your chiropractor administers the treatment. Depending on the issue you are facing, your position on the table may be changed from time to time to make it easy to do the adjustments.

The chiropractor may then apply a controlled and directional thrust with two hands to move the affected joints beyond their natural range of motion. This is what repairs the subluxation.

Although the main focus of the chiropractic adjustment is the spine, chiropractors may also adjust the pelvis as part of the treatment. Some chiropractors may also adjust feet, knees, and wrists.

Common Adjustment Techniques

Some of the common chiropractic adjustment techniques include:

• Toggle Drop: Entails using crossed hands to press down firmly on a particular section of the spine. The spine is then adjusted through a quick and precise thrust improving its mobility.
• Table Adjustments: As the name suggests, the procedure involves lying on a special table with “drop pieces”. Your chiropractor then applies quick but gentle thrust plus the table drops. The drops enhance light adjustments without twisting position that’s often common with manual adjustments.
• Lumbar Roll: The chiropractor positions you on his or her side then applies a precise thrust on the misaligned vertebra to return it to its natural position.
• Manipulation under anesthesia: This is often performed in hospital settings when a patient is unresponsive to traditional adjustments
• Release work: Involves the application of gentle pressure using fingertips to separate the vertebrae
• Instrumental adjustments: This involves the use of a string-loaded activator to perform the adjustments. The technique can also be applied to animals as well.

After-care Tips

Chiropractic adjustment is an investment in your future health and well-being but what happens after the treatment? Well, you have to practice self-care to ensure that you are getting the maximum return on your investment.

Charlotte Demaine recommends there following after a chiropractic adjustment:

• Exercise: Most chiropractors will recommend some exercises after adjustment. Remember that the exercises are meant to help you improve your condition, so ensure that you will follow them.
• Get Enough Rest: As aforementioned, a lot of our daily activities stress our body in one way or another. So, it is advisable to get adequate rest to allow your body to heal. So, after undergoing chiropractic adjustment, avoid strenuous activities to give your body time to recuperate. Avoid training for that upcoming marathon, heavy lifting, or stressing yourself with that pending home project, especially if your body is recovering from an injury.
• Avoid unnecessary injuries: It is understandable that it can be challenging to change your ways of doing things or going about your day-to-day activities. However, if it is what you did that resulted in your current injury, it is best to avoid it or other related activities after a chiropractic adjustment. For instance, if your chronic back or neck pain was caused by some exercise routine you copied from a YouTube fitness instructor, then it is probably a good idea to follow the modifications that have been recommended by your chiropractor.
• Hydrate: Up to 60% of our body is made of water. Our bodies also rely on water to cushion our joints and flush away waste products. What’s more, water carries vital nutrients to different cells in our bodies. After a chiropractic adjustment, your joints and muscles will be a bit strained. Proper hydration will allow your joints to shift smoothly and heal as needed.

There you have it; some of the tips you need to know about chiropractic adjustment, especially if you are going to try it for the first time. Remember to choose an experienced chiropractor to get the most out of the treatment. Ask for referrals from close associates, read past client reviews, and ask as many questions as possible about the treatment during your initial consultation.

Check out Lakewood Natural Medicine for one-stop chiropractic care.