Treatment, Benefits, and What You Need to Know
Chiropractic manipulation, also known as a spinal adjustment, is a common treatment for back and neck pain. During treatment, your chiropractor uses their hands and specialized tools to correct the alignment of the body and relieve pressure on your joints.
Chiropractic treatment is 100% non-invasive and has a wide range of benefits, including pain relief, reduced inflammation, and improved posture. It’s been a popular and recognized treatment for back and neck pain for over a century.
Are you considering trying chiropractic treatment for the first time? In this article, you’ll find out what you need to know before you make an appointment, including:
- What a chiropractic spinal adjustment involves
- Benefits and risks of spinal adjustment
- What to expect from your first visit to our chiropractic office
Want to talk to a real person? We’re here to help at Family Chiropractic. Send us your question or give us a call here.
What is a Chiropractic Adjustment?
A chiropractic adjustment is a non-invasive treatment for back and neck pain (and other forms of discomfort). During an adjustment, your chiropractor will manually manipulate your spine to relieve tension in the joints and improve nerve function.
The chiropractor uses their hands to apply controlled force to vertebrae, correcting their position and realigning your body. Stretching, twisting, and applying heat to the back are also common during an adjustment. Chiropractors may also use specialized tools to manipulate the spine and joints.
A successful chiropractic adjustment restores spinal alignment and improves the structural integrity of the entire body, which results in a reduction in pain and improved mobility.
Does chiropractic adjustment really work?
Yes. Spinal manipulation has been used for thousands of years to relieve pain and restore mobility. It’s a tested non-invasive and non-pharmaceutical treatment that brings the body back into balance.
Over the years, many studies have shown that chiropractic adjustment really works to relieve back and neck pain. A 2007 study found spinal manipulation to be an effective treatment for lower back pain [1]. Another study found that chiropractic care relieved neck pain in nearly 70% of participants [2].
Physicians are also supportive of chiropractic care. Many family doctors and specialists refer their patients to chiropractors for musculoskeletal issues [3].
Chiropractic adjustments are not only practiced by chiropractors, either. Physical therapists and osteopathic physicians treat their patients with similar adjustments and spinal manipulation.
What happens when your spine is adjusted?
A spinal adjustment, or spinal manipulation therapy (SMT), is an attempt to correct the alignment of your spine. When your spine is aligned, it relieves tension and pain from your joints and releases pinched nerves that cause migraines and sciatica (among other issues).
When your spine is out of alignment, it puts extra stress and tension on your joints. It’s a bit like a house with a few broken support beams. The remaining beams need to work double-time to support the structure. Over time, the extra stress on these beams will result in structural damage to the house.
Your joints and bones are your body’s support beams. When one or more of your spinal joints is out of alignment, it puts more stress on other joints and sends tension reverberating through your body. Joint pain, headaches, poor posture, and fatigue are signs that your body is suffering from structural damage.
Spinal adjustment repairs the support structure of your body. When that happens, tension is lifted from aching joints and your body is able to return to its natural, comfortable, and aligned state. In a sense, it helps you feel like you again.
How Do You Know if You Need a Spinal Adjustment?
There are many signs that you may benefit from a spinal adjustment. Some are symptoms of developing structural problems, and others are general discomfort issues that can be relieved with spinal manipulation.
If you suffer from one or more of these problems, a chiropractor may be able to help:
- Lower back pain
- Neck pain
- Chronic headaches or migraines
- Pain in the knees, hips, or shoulders
- Muscle aches, numbness, or tingling
- Stiffness
- Fatigue
- Reduced mobility
- Poor posture
- Sciatica
- Fibromyalgia
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Scoliosis
- TMJ
- Pain from an injury or accident
Poor spinal alignment and pinched nerves can also cause issues with the digestive tract and sinuses.
An easy way to understand if you need chiropractic care is to ask yourself if you feel generally healthy but suffer from pain, such as muscle pain, joint pain, or headaches. A chiropractor can often relieve these conditions in a matter of weeks without medication.
If you have a chronic medical issue causing your pain, such as a slipped or herniated disc, a spinal injury, a broken bone, or arthritis, it’s advised to consult a medical doctor.
Benefits and Risks Associated with Chiropractic Adjustment
Chiropractic adjustment can drastically improve your quality of life in as little as one session without the need for invasive treatments or pharmaceutical drugs. However, like any medical treatment, there are some risks and potential side effects. Ensuring that your chiropractor is licensed virtually eliminates these risks.
What are the benefits of chiropractic adjustment?
When your body is realigned with a chiropractic adjustment, you feel like yourself again. An adjustment puts everything in its right place, giving you a feeling of balance and confidence in your skin.
When your body is out of alignment, it doesn’t respond the way you want it to (or the way you expect). Simple actions like getting off the sofa or throwing a football may result in pain and discomfort because your body isn’t able to do what your brain tells it to. Chiropractic adjustments restore your ability to move and live as you intend, without pain and stiffness.
Other benefits of chiropractic care include:
- Reduced low-back pain
- Eased neck pain
- Greater flexibility and range of motion
- Fewer headaches
- Reduced inflammation
- Better posture
- Improved immune system function
- More energy
- Brighter mood
- Improved balance
- Better sleep
What are the risks of chiropractic adjustment?
On very rare occasions, chiropractic adjustment can result in adverse effects, such as a herniated disc, spinal injury, or stroke. However, these occur in about one out of one million chiropractic patients (or .0001% of patients) [4].
Compare that with prescription drug takers, 14% of whom reported experiencing at least one serious side effect since 2016 [5].
You can virtually eliminate the risk of serious adverse effects during your chiropractic adjustment by following these two precautions:
Only seek treatment from a licensed chiropractor: A Doctor of Chiropractic has pursued a post-graduate degree in chiropractic care and has passed rigorous licensing exams to perform spinal adjustments. Unlicensed practitioners do not have the training or experience to safely perform chiropractic adjustments.
Be honest about your medical history: Some people are at greater risk of adverse effects due to medical conditions or past injury. It’s important that you answer your chiropractor’s questions truthfully and completely during your consultation to reduce your risk.
While the risks of chiropractic adjustment are very rare, you may experience some minor side effects after your treatment. These include mild soreness, fatigue, slight nausea, and dizziness. These side effects are harmless and usually go away within 24 hours.
Schedule Your Chiropractic Adjustment at Family Chiropractic
Family Chiropractic has been Redwood City’s choice in advanced chiropractic care for over 40 years. A true family operation, Drs. Piazza Sr. and Jr. have deep roots in the Redwood City community. They, along with CMT Robin Piazza, have served thousands of patients over the years, including multiple generations of the same families.
Get in touch today to schedule your chiropractic adjustment. Or, come by our state-of-the-art clinic at 200 Main Street to request an appointment. Most health insurance plans are accepted.
