While some see a chiropractor for back adjustments, others may seek their help for aligning the vertebrae, preventive care, or help in managing serious painful conditions (ie. scoliosis or whiplash).
No matter what the reason is behind your visit, the goal of all chiropractors is to help you return to 100% health, whether that means a one-time visit or a regular preventive maintenance program.
How Long Should a Chiropractic Adjustment Last?
While there is no simple answer as to how long your chiropractic adjustment should last. Each person responds differently to chiropractic treatment and the chiropractic plan and time frame are driven mostly by the patient’s age, fitness level, duration of pain, type of injury, and level of discomfort.
For chiropractic care to be effective, care typically takes 2 to 4 weeks with visits of 3 times a week. Once improvement is experienced, a chiropractor can begin to recommend home-based care that you can do yourself with the help of ergonomic tools like elastic bands, foam rollers, and dietary support.
In total, the average person requires anywhere between 18-24 adjustments over approximately 9-14 weeks to complete all three phases of chiropractic care (pain relief, stabilization, rehabilitation).
Depending on the extent of the spinal injury, patients typically feel a reduction in pain of 40-80% following their first visit. However, general improvement occurs within 1 to 4 weeks from the start of chiropractic therapy.
The Benefits of Chiropractic Adjustments
Many people mistake spinal manipulation for a chiropractic adjustment, however, there are quite dramatic differences between the two and it ultimately comes down to the specific area or areas of the spinal region that adjustments treat.
Typically, manipulation is used to provide short-term pain relief while chiropractic adjustments offer long-term benefits to patients.
A chiropractic adjustment is a nonsurgical health care treatment used to treat disorders of the musculoskeletal or nervous system such as lower back pain, neck pain, and other ailments.
The procedure itself involves a trained specialist (chiropractor) applying specific techniques and a controlled, sudden force to the vertebra through the use of their hands or small instruments to treat and maintain the spinal cord and the surrounding structures, improving spinal motion, and improving your body’s physical function.
Improved Immunity
Chiropractic care also has the potential to improve immunity. Misalignment of your spine can disrupt your nervous system and dramatically reduce your body’s immune system to function at its optimum level. A chiropractic adjustment can help bring your spine back into shape, potentially improving your nervous system and improving its functionality. A stronger body means a stronger immune system to fight off common colds and influenza.
Better Breathing
Chiropractic treatment also can potentially help improve your breathing, as well as your energy levels. Your lungs depend on a fully functioning nervous system and any misalignment can cause lung abnormalities that might contribute to asthma or other breathing difficulties.
Reducing tension in your body, specifically your spine, and improving the function of your nerves naturally boosts your energy causing you to feel less tired and run down.
Is It Time to See a Chiropractor?
Most people are unaware of all the ailments that can be relieved through chiropractic adjustment, but if you are experiencing any of the problems listed below, it might be time to pay your chiropractor a visit.
Extremity Pain or Tingling
Chiropractic adjustments can relieve nerve pressure that causes pain and tingling in the arms, legs, feet, and hands and with the right specialist, prescription medication can sometimes be reduced or eliminated by correcting the source of the pain.
Chronic Headaches and Migraines
Chiropractic treatment can potentially provide relief to headache and migraine sufferers by releasing tension and nerve pressure. Headaches and migraines can be detrimental to one’s quality of life and medication isn’t always the most effective approach to improve someone’s condition.
Poor Range of Motion
If you are experiencing a poor range of motion, chiropractic adjustment can potentially help by realigning bones and joints to ensure they function at an optimal level. Even if the poor range of motion doesn’t cause any pain, it can hinder your day to day activity.
Seasonal Allergies
Believe it or not, chiropractic care could possibly relieve some symptoms of seasonal allergies. A lack of efficiency within the immune system is a common cause for allergies and improving the functionality of the central nervous system through a series of adjustments has helped many see an improvement in their seasonal allergy symptoms after regular appointments.
Lack of Sleep
Many people lose hours of sleep every night due to back, neck and joint pain. Chiropractic adjustments alleviate pain in these specific areas, allowing you to get a more restful night’s sleep.
High-Stress Levels
Lastly, when the nervous system is misaligned and tension is built up in the spine, it can hinder brain function and ultimately affect how we deal with stress. Once tension is released, your body can begin to feel relaxed and see a noticeable elevation in your mood.
If you are ready to start your journey to feeling better and stronger, contact Dr. Harlan at 913-897-8382. They will help you find the right treatment plan and help your body become healthy again.