As a resident of Orange Park, FL, are you suffering from neck or back pain? Perhaps you have limited mobility, or you’ve been involved in an auto accident, but physiotherapy has not helped your chronic pain. In this case, a chiropractor may be able to help. What do these medical professionals do, and what happens in an “adjustment”?
A chiropractic adjustment may also be called manual manipulation or spinal manipulation. It’s really nothing more than the use of external force to manipulate the spine into the correct alignment. It’s often used for lower back pain, but can also be used to treat a wide range of other treatments.
What Will You Notice?
Within the adjustment, you’ll notice several specific things. First, there is the application of force. The chiropractor will use his or her hand or arm, or sometimes a specialized tool, to apply force to a vertebra. You will hear a pop – this is just the release of gases from the vertebra, which causes the reduction of pressure in the joint. Finally, you will feel a relieving sensation afterward. Note that some patients do report initial discomfort that lasts for a minute or two, particularly if the muscles in the area treated spasm. There may also be some discomfort if you tense before the application of pressure.
What to Know Before and During
It’s important to note that before undergoing an adjustment, you should have a full evaluation by a chiropractor. During this time, you will explain your symptoms, and the chiropractor will physically evaluate your back and neck. Based on this evaluation, you will receive a customized treatment plan created specifically to help treat your condition.
In terms of frequency of adjustment, there is really nothing set in stone. A great deal will depend on your level of discomfort, and the results of the chiropractor’s evaluation. It is rare to need only one adjustment, though. In most instances, you will complete a series of adjustments over a period of time, with your pain/discomfort and range of motion evaluated before and after each one. Based on your progress, your treatments may be extended.
Are They Safe?
Are chiropractic adjustments safe? Yes, they are, so long as you are being treated by a trained, licensed chiropractor. These are the only professionals who should be allowed to treat your spine health by correcting vertebral subluxation.
