When you are just starting a new treatment plan, it's common to have adjustments multiple times a week. As your body begins to heal, that number could drop to just once a week. And if you are pain-free and simply want to maintain your lifestyle, you might only need to get an adjustment once or twice a month.
Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to help increase blood flow to the brain. They can help increase the flow of cerebral spinal fluid as well. This can significantly help people suffering from neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis and epilepsy.
Over-manipulation syndrome can begin after high velocity adjustments from a chiropractor or through self-manipulation. While chiropractors provide wonderful care in many cases, there is a risk of damaging the ligament structures and causing joint instability with continued high-velocity adjustments.
The adjustment itself should last anywhere between five and 20 minutes, again, depending on the issue and its severity. If the doctor has prescribed you a massage or some physical therapy, you can expect the appointment to take 45 minutes to an hour. If it's just an adjustment, it should be under 30 minutes.
A person seeking adjustment for prevention or wellness purposes can typically expect a treatment plan that extends for about nine to 10 weeks. The standard schedule is one appointment a week for a window lasting nine to 10 weeks. However, this is something that you can personalize with your chiropractor.
However, while it might be tempting to try to self-correct your spinal misalignment at home, it is never recommended to do so without the help of a medical professional.
Chiropractic adjustment can be effective in treating low back pain, although much of the research done shows only a modest benefit — similar to the results of more-conventional treatments.
Try to avoid prolonged sitting right after an adjustment. Focus on sitting upright with good posture. Pull your shoulders back, sit with your heels on the floor, and keep your elbows tight to your side. Not for nothing, making good posture a habit will actually have benefits all the time.
Sometimes, a toxin release feels great because endorphins are released during a chiropractic adjustment.
For those patients that are seeking chiropractic adjustments to maintain their health and use it as precautionary method, once every few weeks is enough. It is common for people to get adjusted once every few weeks even once they have healed from their condition.
The frequency of the visits to the chiropractor will depend on what your specific needs are. For some people, weekly sessions will be most beneficial. For others, bi-monthly consultations will work just as well. You will need to incorporate other routines to get the most benefit.
In fact, this is one of the reasons that a chiropractic visit is so quick when compared to other therapies. When a chiropractor performs an adjustment, this quickly stretches the local spinal muscles, stimulating the GTOs, and causing relaxation. This relaxation of muscles is instantaneous.
Changing your posture, changing your spine's ability to move, changing your muscle health and structure take time. Months in fact. All muscles have memory and your body wants to go back to its old patterns instead of creating new healthy ones. That is why adjustments need to be repeated again and again.
Gait and Posture Assessment
Chiropractors understand the natural gait and posture and will assess these areas when determining where to adjust. A basic assessment of your gait and posture will provide insights into the musculoskeletal system and its capability to adjust to different strains and stressors.
Spinal adjustments can improve blood flow which aids in promoting relaxation and gets your body ready for the night ahead. A chiropractor can evaluate your sleeping pattern and provide solutions.
When Not To See A Chiropractor. Patients with herniated or slipped discs and those with arthritis may need advice from specialist physicians before seeing a chiropractor. If there is a physical abnormality or injury in your body, such as a fracture, chiropractic care may not be for you.
Generally, chiropractors recommend a massage before any chiropractic adjustments in order to relieve tight muscles for a more effective joint adjustment. Those who just started chiropractic adjustments may also consider massage first before the therapy to reduce any discomfort while the adjustments are being done.
Normally, when you get manual manipulation of the spine to correct any of the issues you may be suffering from, this initial process takes adults about 2-3 weeks with two spinal corrections throughout the week.
In conclusion, no one can adjust themselves, not even chiropractors. While a chiropractor may be able to determine that the spine is safe to adjust and know exactly which bone needs to be adjusted, the direction of force and proper contact are just not possible to do yourself.
What that pop or crack actually is is gas releasing from the joint, not actually the joint itself. A chiropractic adjustment improves motion in a joint that's been stuck to the point where it's causing interference in your nerve signals.
A chiropractor can help you correct poor posture such as forward head translation or slouching and realign your spine to assure that the body is functioning optimally.
While chiropractic treatment is highly effective for short-term relief, chiropractic care can also be beneficial in the long term. Chiropractors are experts in spinal health and wellness, and they can help you achieve a greater level of overall health and well-being.