Make Your Chiropractic Adjustments Last Longer
You’ve invested time and money to ease your discomfort and be sure that your spine, joints, and muscles are all firing optimally…and then, something slips back out of place. Wouldn’t it be great if you could make chiropractic adjustments last longer?
A great chiropractor is indispensable to ensure those adjustments go easier on you, and just as importantly, to make those chiropractic adjustments last longer. But your chiropractor’s technique is only a part of the equation. If the chiropractic patient doesn’t participate in the process, you’ll not only waste money and time but may experience continued discomfort.
Our chiropractors in Brielle, NJ share this handy checklist to make sure you get what you need out of your chiropractic care…in the lowest number of visits, and the least money spent.
Plan your visit
To take full advantage of the health benefits, plan your schedule knowing that it’s not just a 2 1/2 minute “crack session.” A good chiropractor will take the time to do these three things:
- find subluxations and other issues,
- makenecessary adjustments, and
- recommend a course of action to get the most out of that treatment.
This takes time, and both the patient and the doctor should allow the necessary time for all three things to be addressed.
Take out your wallet
No, we’re not talking about spending money. A lump in your back pocket can have unexpected consequences. Where you put that wallet after your session may be an issue. Is it shoved into your back pocket causing you to sit higher on one side than the other?
Consider putting your wallet in your front pocket, where its impact on your newly-adjusted spine will be minimized.
Drink water
Soft-tissue work and chiropractic adjustments break up and release toxins into your system. Two of these toxins are uric acid and lactic acid. It can feel like you’ve had a strenuous workout, even if you didn’t even break a sweat. The most important factor to flushing out these toxins is to stay hydrated. But most people don’t get the amount of water they need for optimal health and performance, even before an adjustment.
Here are three steps to your ideal hydration, to make your adjustments easier and longer lasting:
- Measure how much you actually drink daily. Invest in a graduated bottle to check those fluid ounces, and write your numbers in a notebook or productivity app.
- Know how much you need to drink daily. Your water needs are impacted by a number of factors including your age, sex, weight, level of activity, and others.
- Follow a simple system for getting your water numbers up. Try setting an alarm for numerous times in the day and sip. This only takes a moment and avoids the discomfort that comes from gulping too much at a time.
Epsom Salt
Epsom salts remove toxins and provided needed nutrients absorbed directly through the skin. Especially important after a chiropractic office visit, alkaline solution helps to increase perspiration, aiding in the removal of toxins, and it helps your body uptake magnesium and sulfur to soothe aching muscles. To make your chiropractic adjustment last longer, sweat out the uric acid and lactic acid with about two cups of Epsom salts in a bath, with a minimum of 12 minutes of soak time.
Sit up
It’s never too early or too late to learn correct posture. Hours in front of a computer terminal or in front of the TV will take its toll not only on the spine but also in every system that the spine controls. The effects of improper posture might just be why you sought out chiropractic in the first place.
A simple adjustment to your form will result in fewer adjustments in the office. Correct form will help you keep the benefits of your adjustment longer and make the next visit easier and more beneficial. Speak to your practitioner about the correct form for sitting, and a plan for taking frequent breaks from a seated position.
It’s a win-win proposition: if you build muscle to support your spine, you end up with better health.
Do the recommended exercises
It’s a win-win proposition: if you build muscle to support your spine, you end up with better health.
Not only does chiropractic care balance the interplay of your muscles, bones, and nerves, but so does exercise. Whether your condition was caused by repetitive movement on the job, a habitual posture, or by trauma, the recommended post-adjustment routine is critical.
Your doctor will suggest exercises to make chiropractic adjustments last longer and aid with faster recovery. Make a decision to follow the prescribed exercises to get to your goals quickly!
Ice
Ice increases circulation while reducing inflammation. That increase in blood flow removes toxins from the affected area at an increased rate. Enhanced circulation also introduces nutrients to your joints and muscles more effectively, accelerating the healing process.
Avoid putting ice directly on the area. We recommend using a bag of frozen peas, ice in a heavy-duty plastic bag, or a cold pack to activate the healing properties of cold without overdoing it.
Speak up
The most important factor in chiropractic health is communication. Your chiropractor should check in with you verbally and with palpations before making any adjustments. You and your doctor will explore your range of motion before, during and after the session. The doctor’s job is to help you find the subluxation, make adjustments and make sure it’s holding.
Be sure to tell express your needs and give feedback about how the process is progressing. Trust and rapport are indispensable factors to establishing long-term results. Don’t be afraid to ask for recommendations for a specialist if necessary; a great chiropractor will have a ready list of professionals to refer.
Choose a Chiropractor you trust
You want your chiropractor to be both competent and compassionate. Your doctor understands you are a human being, composed of multiple interdependent parts: 206 bones, but 600 muscles and countless somatosensory pathways all intertwining with organs and of the body.
Diet, exercise, sleep and stress management all impact these systems in profound ways.
The goal of your chiropractor is to get all of these systems working together once again. A competent chiropractor understands the importance of soft-tissue work in a holistic, whole-body approach. The processes of the mind and emotions affect the body profoundly. Your chiropractor should be able to detect and respond to your concerns.
Finally, your trustworthy chiropractor is quick to acknowledge the limits of her knowledge. What if an alternative therapy like acupuncture or physical therapy is a better solution for your condition? The chiropractor you choose should be familiar with other trusted specialists and be able to make a referral.
Make your chiropractic experience the best it can be. Choose a doctor that fits every part of this hard-to-fill checklist! Dr. Nicole Yarbenet with Brielle Integrated Healthcare is a top local chiropractor. Contact our Brielle, NJ chiropractor; we offer chiropractic care near Sea Girt, Manasquan, and Point Pleasant, New Jersey.