What to Expect During a Chiropractic Adjustment

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Chiropractic / Techniques

A chiropractic adjustment can be a handy procedure to help relieve pain. Beneficial for back pain but often used for other disorders, chiropractic care can be an alternative to medications and even surgery for some patients. Those new to this approach may be unsure of what to expect during an adjustment.

Preparing for Your Appointment

There is nothing you need to do before your appointment to prepare. Some patients find that wearing loose-fitting clothing to their appointment is more comfortable as you can move around more easily during your treatment session.

Before the Procedure

When you meet with your chiropractor for the first time, they will ask you some routine questions about your overall health and the reason for your adjustment. Being as specific as possible about the location and type of pain you feel will help direct their attention during the physical exam. They will pay particular attention to those areas and may also recommend an x-ray before the procedure.

The Adjustment

Your chiropractor will direct you into specific positions on a specially designed table for each joint adjustment. The table is padded for your comfort. Once you are correctly positioned, they will use their hands to apply a sudden force to your joint. It is a movement that you may not expect at first, but it’s important to stay relaxed.

This quick application of pressure pushes the joint past its usual range of motion, and it is normal to hear cracking or popping as each joint is adjusted during your treatment.

When You Get Home

Although the treatment should ultimately result in pain relief, you may feel a bit of pain for the first few days after the adjustment. After spine and neck adjustment, a headache is common. But these side effects should not last long.

Call Allied Pain & Spine Institute today to schedule an appointment with one of our highly trained chiropractors. They can discuss the procedure in more detail and determine if this alternative care approach is the proper treatment for you. An adjustment might be just what you need to relieve chronic pain.

Posted on behalf of Allied Pain & Spine Institute