3 Tips To Follow After Your Chiropractic Adjustment

9 July 2015
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Visiting a chiropractor can provide the significant pain relief that allows you to restore your quality of life. Although your chiropractor takes charge during the appointment itself, it's important for you to take an active role in your recuperation in the hours and days after the adjustment to maximize its effects. Because each chiropractic adjustment can be different based on the physical condition you've been experiencing, it's always important to talk to your chiropractor about the specific after-treatment care steps you should adopt. In general, however, here are three valuable tips to keep in mind.

Just Add Ice

Everyone responds differently to chiropractic care. Some patients experience no discomfort whatsoever, while others have a degree of short-term pain after the appointment. It's more common to notice discomfort if you're a new chiropractic patient, given that your body might have been out of adjustment for a significant period of time and is responding to the sudden physical changes. If you're feeling the effects of the treatment, relief is often as simple as holding an ice pack wrapped in a towel against the area for 10 to 20 minutes. Remove the ice to allow your skin to warm up and then apply the ice again for 10 to 20 more minutes. Repeat this process as necessary.

Stay Hydrated

Your body needs proper hydration for all of its essential functions, including healing. After a chiropractic adjustment, your body is getting accustomed to its change in alignment and should be hydrated to aid in the recovery process. Given that 75 percent of the nation's population is chronically dehydrated, making a point to consistently drink water is even more important. The amount of water you should drink depends on your gender -- women should aim to get nine cups per day while men need thirteen cups per day.

Try Some Exercise

Pushing your body to the limit by vigorously lifting weights or playing an up-tempo sport after your chiropractic adjustment can harm your body's ability to stay in balance, but some mild exercise is just what the doctor ordered. Provided your chiropractor doesn't warn you against doing so, it is generally helpful to take a short walk later in the day of your appointment and include more moderate activities in the days that follow. Many chiropractors recommend exercise as part of the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle, so keeping active is important more than just after your appointment.