Surprisingly, about two-thirds of our patients report some improvement after the first chiropractic adjustment. Most of the rest will be done in the first one to three weeks, after several more treatments. Talk to your chiropractor for guidelines. They may ask you to take a couple of hours off before exercising, or they may suggest that you wait a day or two.
It really depends on your history, your level of fitness, and the type of treatment you receive. Your chiropractor will try to treat your pain, but will also want to address the underlying problem causing it. That's why most chiropractors recommend treatment even after you've responded to treatment and the pain has stopped. When additional help is needed, a chiropractor can keep your spine working properly to prevent more serious problems in the future.
Depending on what's bothering you, your chiropractor may also prescribe exercise or movement routines for you to follow. You can usually expect 4 to 12 weekly sessions and a personalized treatment plan in the future to determine how often you should book adjustment sessions. During your first visit to the chiropractor, your chiropractor will get an extensive history of your condition. Your chiropractor is likely to use one of the most common chiropractic techniques, which involves a strong directional push directly on the joint.
Spinal alignment is achieved through manual manipulation, in which the chiropractor gently stretches, pushes and applies pressure as he sees fit until the spine is more optimally aligned. Chiropractic adjustments are often referred to as chiropractic manipulations, manual manipulations, back adjustments, or spinal adjustments. It's important to combine in-office treatments with home exercises to experience the full healing potential of chiropractic care. Chiropractic appointments and the time it takes to realign the spine through a chiropractic adjustment tend to be fairly brief for the most part.
In some cases, an adjustment may cause tingling or cooling sensations in the muscles or in the affected area. In some cases, your chiropractor may prescribe specific stretches and exercises to help with your condition, depending on what's bothering you. It will depend on your history, your level of fitness and your chiropractic treatment, but you may be asked to wait a few hours after your appointment or a few days. The frequency won't be that high, but continuing to see a chiropractor on a regular basis will help you stay pain-free for an extended period of time.
