What do you think of when you hear the word chiropractic?
For those who haven’t been to a chiropractor before, it can sometimes stir up ideas of having your body pushed and pulled around, having your bones cracked and getting your head pulled at angles where it feels like it’s going to pop off!
As anyone who has been to see a chiropractor will tell you though, this is far from the case, and visiting a chiropractor is often a form of relaxation therapy for people in addition to the other numerous health benefits it offers.
In this article, we are going to take a look at 5 things you might not know about chiropractic.
#1 – IT’S BEEN AROUND LONGER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK!
Chiropractic is not a new form of treatment, in fact, the first adjustment was carried out in 1895 by a man named Daniel David Palmer.
Daniel carried out the first adjustment on Harvey Lillard, a janitor who worked in the same building.
Harvey had previously injured his back, causing a vertebra to move out of position which caused him pain and mobility issues as well as a loss of his hearing.
Daniel adjusted Harveys vertebra back into the correct position, and to both of their surprise, Harvey came into work the next day with his back healed and best of all, he had regained his lost hearing!
This is an excellent example of how one misalignment in your spine can affect the other areas of your body. One weak link and the whole chain is affected!
This experience led to David establishing the School of Chiropractic in 1897, and Chiropractic was born!
Since then millions of people have been adjusted and have reaped the benefits of chiropractic, all thanks to one janitor and his bad back!
# 2 – A SUBLUXWHAT?
Your spine is made up of 33 different vertebrae and within these is housed your spinal cord. This is the body’s superhighway, carrying information to and from your brain letting it know what’s going on around the body.
A spinal misalignment, also known as a subluxation, is where one or more of these 33 vertebrae moves out of position and puts pressure on your spinal cord, disrupting the flow of information to and from your brain.
Just like in the real world, the breakdown in communication can cause some major problems!
#3 – YOUR SPINE IS PROBABLY MISALIGNED, AND YOU JUST DON’T KNOW IT!
Spinal misalignment doesn’t just happen to people who have injured themselves in an accident. In fact, many people are walking around with alignment issues and they don’t even know about it.
In today’s world, we are spending more and more time sat down at desks or in cars for hours a week. We spend hours looking down at our phones or computers, using keyboards and mice that are rarely set up ergonomically, causing poor posture, all of which is playing havoc with your spine.
On top of this many people today have decreased levels of physical activity and increased levels of stress, so it’s no surprise spinal misalignments are becoming more common than ever!
But, as we learned from David and Harvey, a misalignment doesn’t just result in a bad back.
In fact, your spine can sometimes be out of alignment without you feeling any back pain at all, but misalignments can cause a whole host of other problems other than just back pain.
These can include, but are not limited to:
• Joint pain in your knee, shoulder or hips
• Muscle tension
• Migraines
• Stiffness
If you have any of these symptoms, it could be your spine is misaligned and an adjustment is all you need!
# 4 – YOUR FIRST VISIT.
When you first visit a chiropractor, your will start off with a consultation. Don’t worry if you are feeling nervous, this is where your chiropractor will answer any questions you have and put your mind at ease.
Your first visit will usually last around 1 hour and will aim to identify your main issues and reasons for seeking out chiropractic treatment.
This will involve discussing your symptoms, medical history as well as some basic tests such as blood pressure and testing your range of motion in the affected area.
These tests are done in a completely confidential environment and the results are used to determine the best way to move forward with your treatment.
Every chiropractic treatment is tailored to you and your needs which is why this first examination is necessary, it also gives a point of reference in the future to see how your health journey is progressing.
# 5 – IT DOESN’T HURT!
So, you’ve had your consultation, your chiropractor has created your tailored plan and it’s time for you to lay down on that table for the first time.
The question on most people’s minds at this point is, “How much is this going to hurt?”
You will be relieved to hear that adjustments don’t hurt, and a chiropractor isn’t going to fold you in half and twist you in unnatural ways.
Instead, they will carry out a small series of adjustments aimed at re-aligning your subluxations, meaning that information can start flowing correctly between your brain and body again.
It’s common to hear a popping sound during your adjustment, but this is nothing to worry about. This is just the sound of gasses that occur naturally in the joint being pushed out by the adjustment and it’s completely harmless.
Most patients leave their first adjustment feeling a little lighter, taller and more mobile than they did before, and it’s advisable to make use of this newfound movement.
Try going for a light walk or bike ride and make sure you drink plenty of water. Try to avoid going straight back to sitting at a desk or sofa for 8 hours, as you may find your body reverts back to its old ways and you could undo the great work your chiropractor has done.
IN CONCLUSION
Chiropractic is often misunderstood, but hopefully now you have a better idea of what it’s all about. Everybody can benefit from an adjustment, regardless of age, gender or fitness level.
It’s worth remembering, Chiropractors are medical professionals and undergo years of training to do what they do, so don’t try any of their techniques at home!
If you are interested in receiving a chiropractic adjustment or would just like to know more, click “find a chiropractor” above to discover your closest UCA registered chiropractor and book your consultation today!
Reference: https://unitedchiropractic.org/1275/5-Things-You-May-Not-Know-About-Chiropractic
