Feeling nervous about seeing a chiropractor? You’re not alone! It’s common to feel a bit apprehensive, especially if it’s your first time. But just know that the goal for any great chiropractor is for you to leave feeling happy and pain-free! Below, we’re breaking down what’s involved in a chiropractic adjustment, and how it feels to receive one!
How Does a Chiropractic Adjustment Work?
The spine is a complex structure of vertebrae, discs, muscles, ligaments, and nerves. It provides structural support, protects the spinal cord, and facilitates movement.
Many of us will experience misalignments within the spine, known as subluxations, due to poor posture, trauma, repetitive stress, or underlying health conditions. These subluxations can lead to pain, stiffness, reduced mobility, and impaired nerve function.
A chiropractic adjustment involves the application of precise and controlled force to specific joints of the spine or other parts of the body, with the following goals:
Restoring Alignment
A chiropractic adjustment targets areas of the spine in which the joint may be in partial restriction. Precise and controlled force is applied to mobilize/manipulate the joint, encouraging them to return to its normal mechanics and restore function of joint-nerve-muscle function. This helps to relieve joint dysfunction and restore optimal movement.
Releasing Pressure
Subluxations of the joints and in the spine can cause pain, irritate nerves and cause tingling, or numbness. A chiropractic adjustment helps to alleviate pressure on these nerves, restoring mobility, normal function and reducing muscle guarding-spasm relieving pain.
Promoting Healing
A chiropractic adjustment can encourage the body’s natural healing processes by improving blood flow, reducing inflammation, and releasing endorphins — the “feel good hormone”. This can accelerate the healing of injured tissues and reduce recovery time.
Improving Function
Proper alignment and mobility of the spine improves nervous system function and communication between the brain and the rest of the body.
Does Chiropractic Care Hurt?
A chiropractic adjustment is a natural way to treat many conditions – without medication, surgery, or invasive treatments.
While everyone’s experience will be different, chiropractic adjustments are typically gentle and non-invasive. Of course, pain is subjective and will vary from person to person. Some people may experience mild discomfort or a sensation of pressure during a chiropractic adjustment, while others may feel little to no discomfort at all.
Common sensations felt during an adjustment include:
- Pressure, as force is applied to manipulate the spine or joints
- Cracking or popping sounds, caused by the release of gas bubbles within the joint
- Muscle relaxation, as tension is released
If you’re considering chiropractic care but worried about discomfort, don’t let that hold you back! Talk to your chiropractor about any concerns, and they’ll work with you to ensure a comfortable experience.
What to Expect from Your Chiropractic Visit
Understanding what to expect from your chiropractic visit can help ease your apprehension and make the most of your experience.
Here’s what you can expect from your visit for a chiropractic adjustment:
1. Consultation
Your chiropractor will review your medical history and discuss your current symptoms and their severity, pain location, movement limitations, and any previous treatments or therapies you’ve tried. This will help your chiropractor tailor their approach to your specific needs.
2. Physical Examination
Your physical examination will include tests to assess your posture, range of motion, flexibility, and muscle strength. For more severe pain, your chiropractor may also conduct an orthopedic or neurological evaluation to identify any underlying issues.
3. Diagnosis and Treatment Plan
Your chiropractor will provide a diagnosis and develop a personalized treatment plan, which can include chiropractic adjustments, therapeutic exercises, stretches, and lifestyle recommendations to address your specific condition and goals.
4. Chiropractic Adjustment
During your adjustment, your chiropractor will apply controlled force to specific joints in the spine or other parts of the body to restore proper alignment, alleviate pain, and improve function. These adjustments are typically gentle and non-invasive, although you may experience mild discomfort or unusual sensations during the procedure.
Chiropractic Adjustments in Maryland
If a lifetime of poor posture still has you especially hunched, it might be time to see Dr. Levi. If you’re considering chiropractic care but worried about discomfort, don’t let that hold you back. With personalized treatment plans and precise adjustments, our aim is to restore your body’s natural balance. Contact us for an evaluation.