Most of the time people seek out chiropractic care when they are hoping to relieve some type of pain and discomfort. When you receive chiropractic care for the first time you might want to expect a bit of discomfort after the first few sessions as your body adjusts to the changes. After years of living with your spine out of alignment, your muscles have learned to compensate.
The experience is similar to beginning a new workout regimen where you may be exercising muscles that have not been used as often and you notice discomfort as they strengthen and react to these new healthy habits. Your body is reacting to positive changes and, while they may be uncomfortable at first, the goal is to strengthen your muscles to support the spine in its natural, proper position. If this is your first time meeting with a car accident chiropractor, here are a few things you can expect after a chiropractic adjustment.
Breaking Unhealthy Habits
As your chiropractor uses gentle adjustments on your spine and muscles, they are instructing the musculoskeletal system in breaking unhealthy habits that were causing you pain. The first few adjustments challenge your muscles to support a more healthy, proper posture for your spine. This retraining of your muscles can cause some discomfort and back pain as they are stretched and massaged into more proper alignment. Similarly, chiropractic care also helps teach your spine and surrounding muscles to resist slipping into old, unhealthy habits.
It can be difficult to break any habit that is unhealthy for you, especially when you have been living that way for a long time. But eventually, there comes a time when these negative habits are no longer working for you and the pain that brought you in for chiropractic care begins to affect your daily life. As you continue with your Atlanta chiropractor, you will notice how the experience of breaking habits and forming new ones become more positive as the adjustments encourage your body to reset itself.
Encouraging Healthy Habits
Just like starting a new exercise, experiencing a bit of soreness in your muscles is an indication that they are stretching and strengthening. Regular chiropractic care helps reinforce healthy habits of a properly aligned spine and better posture. Chiropractic adjustments help identify places where your spine is out of place or misaligned and gently encourages the vertebrae to realign. It takes time for chiropractic adjustments to go from short term relief to healthy, long term habits and a strengthened back and spine.
After the first few adjustments, your body may try to revert back to old habits, and those postures might even feel more comfortable at first. However, poor posture and spinal misalignments were very likely contributing to the pain and discomfort that brought you to a chiropractor in the first place. It is important to continue seeing your Atlanta chiropractor regularly to support muscle memory for these new healthy habits.
Reacting to Adjustments
Reactions to chiropractic adjustments can vary from person to person, especially when taking into account whether or not you are new to chiropractic care. An Atlanta chiropractor can discuss with you what you may expect after the first few adjustments. Some people experience soreness in their back muscles, while others may feel fatigued. However, not all experiences are related to discomfort. It is not uncommon to feel relief from pain as pressure on the spine and nerves is relieved. It is also not uncommon to experience mild cold-like symptoms as the body reacts to releasing toxins.
Releasing Toxins
After chiropractic adjustments, you may notice your body releasing unhealthy toxins that were built up in your body. You may experience mild cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose as your body flushes these toxins. It is important to remember to drink lots of water after you have met with your Atlanta chiropractor in order to help your body with the release of toxins. Water will also help nourish the discs that separate each vertebra and support continued flexibility. The body’s responses to flushing toxins are generally mild and drinking water can help your body feel hydrated and refreshed.
Sharing Your Experiences
Communication between you and your Atlanta chiropractor is key to getting the most out of your chiropractic experience. You can expect your chiropractor to walk you through what to expect with each adjustment and how your body may react. Similarly, it is important for you to openly communicate how your body reacts to the adjustments, including any reactions that are uncomfortable for you. Your Atlanta chiropractor can help explain the reason for these and also help normalize the experience. Schedule an appointment with an Atlanta chiropractor today and start moving toward more positive, healthy habits.