One of the most important things to keep during a chiropractic adjustment is staying relaxed. However, if you haven’t had a chiropractic adjustment or tend to be anxious, you might appreciate some tips for relaxing during a chiropractic adjustment.
Why Should I Be Relaxed?
You may be wondering why I should be relaxed for a chiropractic adjustment? A chiropractic adjustment is designed to realign your spine to help assist the health of your musculoskeletal system. If you aren’t settled during your adjustment, your chiropractor may be more challenging to align your spine correctly. Relaxing will help prevent patients from tensing their muscles and achieve a better and more comfortable adjustment. Someone who’s tensing their muscles may feel more discomfort during an adjustment than a person whose muscles are relaxed. You’ll get the most out of your chiropractic adjustment by being relaxed.
Tips For Relaxing During Chiropractic Adjustment
Staying relaxed is essential for getting the most out of your chiropractic adjustment and minimizing discomfort. One major thing you can do to stay relaxed is focused on your breathing. Regulating your breathing to a slow, steady rate will help you stay relaxed. It will also allow the greatest possible movement from your joints, which will help the adjustment progress smoothly. Try to avoid tensing up your muscles. If you do tense up or resist, it can adversely affect your adjustment and may give you discomfort. Try to stay still so your chiropractor can position you best for your chiropractic adjustment. Further, many patients find more relaxed by avoiding highly caffeinated beverages before their appointments. Patients should try to hydrate before and after their positions to help their bodies adjust.
Do Adjustments Hurt?
Chiropractic adjustments shouldn’t hurt. However, if a patient involuntarily stiffens to tense their muscles, there could be discomfort that isn’t typical. Recent trauma can also make a chiropractic adjustment less comfortable. Things like whiplash from car accidents can change how an adjustment feels. That is entirely normal if you do or don’t hear pops or cracks during your adjustment. Not hearing pops doesn’t mean the adjustment isn’t working. After an adjustment, much like after a workout, you may feel sore or tired. You will be moving differently after your alignment, and your body, including muscles, ligaments, and tendons, must adjust to moving correctly. The soreness will go away after a while.
Summary
Staying relaxed during a chiropractic adjustment can help prevent discomfort and help your chiropractor properly perform your alignment. Remember that adjustments typically don’t hurt; they actually can relieve pain. Suppose you come to the chiropractor in a lot of pain. In that case, various other adjustive techniques may be used to avoid causing more pain during the adjustment until you are ready and comfortable to be adjusted by hand. Focusing on your breathing and avoiding tensing your muscles can help you stay relaxed. Also, drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine before your appointments.
If you’d like to set up an appointment for a chiropractic adjustment or would like more advice, visit us at one of our offices in Erie or Longmont. The Chiropractic Center of Erie and Chiropractic Center of Longmont treat the body holistically with our award-winning treatment process to help your body achieve and maintain optimal performance. We specialize in treating patients suffering from back pain and have helped several patients find relief without surgery. If you’d like to learn more about chiropractic care in Longmont or Erie or have questions about what to expect during your first chiropractor visit in Erie or Longmont, call our offices today at 303-828-3000 or 303-772-1950!
