Chiropractic adjustments have many benefits. In the short-term, adjustments can provide immediate relief from injury and pain while in the long-term, adjustments can help retrain the brain to assume a healthier body with full and natural movement.
Getting regular adjustments teaches the body and spine to learn together more efficiently.
However, when patients first begin seeing a chiropractor, adjustments made by the chiropractor, may not last very long. The spine’s natural inclination is to assume its old posture. Fortunately, there are many things that a patient can do to help the spine hold its new posture for as long as possible.
- Rule#1 – Drink lots of water: After a chiropractic adjustment, water is especially good for the body. Drinking lots of water will help nourish the disc between the vertebrae leaving your spine to feel supple and flexible. As a good rule of thumb, you should drink at least two litres of water per day.
- Rule#2 – Stay active: Immediately after getting the chiropractic adjustment, keep your spine in motion as it’ll help your body settle into the change and keep your spine in proper alignment. If you are going to ride in the car following your adjustment, go for a walk first. Upon reaching your home, keep yourself active by walking or doing some light house chores.
- Rule#3 – Sleep right: As you get your adjustment, start sleeping on your back. There are a variety of pillows available in the market that can help your spine maintain a healthy curve. If you are not sure which pillow is right for you, talk to your chiropractor.
- Rule#4 – Get exercise: Exercise that strengthens your back will help your body stay balanced and coordinated after the adjustment. Pilates and yoga are both healthy options for many people. Although, patients recovering from back injuries may need to be careful regarding the type of exercise that they seek.
- Rule#5 – Sit properly: In the work-space, maintain a neutral position by facing straight ahead, taking wallet or phone out of your back pocket, keeping your feet flat on the floor, and taking micro-breaks from being at the desk. Consult your chiropractor about the Brugger exercise. This exercise is extremely beneficial for office workers or anyone spending a lot of time in front of the computer. But honestly, this exercise would benefit everyone and the best thing about it is that it only takes about 10-15 seconds.
- Rule#6 – Follow your chiropractor’s advice: Your chiropractor will likely give you recommendations regarding lifestyle advice or exercise to help you maintain good health after your chiropractic adjustment. For best results, follow your chiropractor’s advice as it’ll help your chiropractic adjustment to be as effective as possible.