How Can a Chiropractic Adjustment Help You?

How Can a Chiropractic Adjustment Help You? Feeling a throbbing headache coming on, piercing pain in your neck, or a spine stiffness that won’t go away? It could be time to get aligned.

There are over 70,000 chiropractors in America who treat over 35 million patients a year. Despite the number of people who choose chiropractic care for their chronic pain, some people are still wary.

If you’ve never visited a chiropractor before, that’s okay!

We’ve reviewed everything you need to know before your first visit. Keep reading to discover how a chiropractic adjustment can help straighten your pain out.

What is a Chiropractic Adjustment?

Also known as a spinal adjustment, chiropractic adjustments are completed using by applying force to a spinal joint. Chiropractors use their hands or small instruments to control the force. During an adjustment, the goal is to improve spinal motion.

However, a chiropractic adjustment can also improve physical function for the entire body.

Chiropractic care can help patients suffering from joint pain, back pain, or even headaches. In many cases, one form of pain, such as a headache, is caused by a misalignment in the neck or back.

A chiropractor will adjust the body so it’s in the proper position.

This allows the body to heal itself. Chiropractic adjustments can also improve a person’s ability to perform, move, and think without pain slowing them down.

When performed by a trained, licensed professional, chiropractic adjustments are safe. Though the risks are rare, there are a few you should remain aware of.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help

According to this survey, 8.4% of U.S. adults use chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation. People choose to visit chiropractors for a number of reasons. We’ve reviewed a few of the top ways chiropractic care can help.

Poor Posture

Years of poor posture can cause a strain on your back. While this seems like a minor reason to get an adjustment, poor posture can add to your back problems over time.

Sciatica

The sciatic nerve is a large nerve that stretches from the low back to the back of your legs. For patients who want to avoid steroid injections or risky surgery, chiropractic care is an ideal alternative treatment option.

Neck Pain & Headaches

A chiropractic adjustment can also help relieve your neck pain.

If you experience chronic neck pain over time, you could also start to develop headaches.

Many chiropractics help treat cervicogenic headaches and migraines. Cervicogenic headaches are usually caused by another source, such as the neck. Migraines, on the other hand, cause throbbing pain on one side of the head.

There aren’t many ways to treat these conditions without medication. Thankfully, chiropractic care is a drug-free treatment that can help.

Frozen Shoulder

Pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint can get worse in time. For treatment, it’s important to preserve the shoulder’s range of motion as much as possible.

Chiropractors can help treat a frozen shoulder to relieve the pain.

Lower Back Pain

Chiropractic care can also reduce mild to moderate lower back pain. In addition to relieving pain, an adjustment can also improve your body’s function.

Prevent the Need for Surgery

In severe cases, any of these conditions could lead you to require surgery.

With ongoing chiropractic care, however, you can relieve your pain. A chiropractor could help you avoid surgical intervention altogether, depending on the severity of your condition.

Other Benefits

Here are a few other benefits of chiropractic adjustments you should consider:

Improves body function, joint mobility, and overall health
Strengthens the immune system
Prevents prenatal discomfort
Decreases adverse stress effects
Improves athletic performance
Can help prevent sickness and disease
Improves wellness for children and infants
Improves nervous system function
Improves sleep
Increases energy
Decreases the duration of labor
Loosens tight muscles or tightens loose muscles (improves contractibility and strength)
Decreases joint and connective tissue degeneration
Decreases inflammatory process
Helps improve blood circulation
Improves the recovery process
Energizes depressed minds and calms hyperactive minds
Improves organ system function

Above all else, a chiropractic adjustment can reduce your pain!

Possible Risks and Side Effects

While the risks and side effects are rare, there are still a few to remain aware of:

Fatigue after your treatment
Short-term headaches
Discomfort where you were treated

Serious risks could include:

Cauda equina syndrome (pinched nerves in the lower spinal canal)
Worsening herniated disks
Stroke

Before scheduling a chiropractic adjustment, make sure to research your chiropractor’s qualifications. A licensed, trained chiropractor will know how to give you the proper treatment you need.

Before You Go

If you’re considering visiting a chiropractor, here are a few tips to consider before you go to your first appointment.

First, get a referral from someone you trust. Consider asking other doctors, friends, or family members if they’ve visited a chiropractor. Once you have a few options, head online.

Visit the chiropractor’s website and read online reviews.

Then, schedule an appointment to meet the chiropractor. Ask about their treatment options and the possible effects.

Before you go, remain aware that some doctors don’t recommend neck manipulations. There’s the risk of rupturing an artery in the neck, which could lead to stroke.

Let the chiropractor know about where you’re experiencing pain. Tell them how long you’ve had this pain, and if you’ve experienced headaches as well.

The more information the chiropractor has at hand, the better they can customize your treatment.

In some cases, your pain could be associated with another issue. Tell your chiropractor about your symptoms. They might determine you’re not a candidate for chiropractic care.

They might also determine you need imaging scans to confirm the problem.

You can also consider seeing an osteopath. These doctors can manipulate the neck without risking a ruptured artery. Again, a doctor can help you determine the type of care you need, so you head to the right place.

Straighten It Out: Everything You Need to Know About Chiropractic Care

Ready to straighten out that pain? Now that you have everything you need to know about chiropractic care, consider making your first appointment today. An adjustment can help improve your body’s function and soothe that pain away.

Check out the Health & Wellbeing section of the blog for more helpful guides.