What To Do After A Chiropractic Adjustment

Whether you just received your first chiropractic adjustments or you have been getting adjusted for years, it’s important to follow a few general rules that can enhance your recovery process.

Here are 10 Rules To Follow After Getting A Chiropractic Adjustment.

#1 Drink A Moderate Amount of Water

It’s important to drink a moderate amount of clean, filtered water following an adjustment. This may not make sense at first but let’s consider what happens following an adjustment.

When muscles have been tight and joints have been less mobile for any length of time, toxins build up in those structures. The normal process for eliminating waste material and gases is diminished when muscles are left in a spasm and joints are subluxated.

When your musculoskeletal system is challenged during an adjustment or manipulation, the byproduct of restoring mobility is a potential release of those toxins as processes return to normal. This is the desired effect, however, it may come with some increased soreness if you are not hydrated well. Hydrating directly after ensures that those toxins are flushed from your system properly.

We recommend consuming at least 1-2 full bottles of water over the 3-4 hours following treatment. Proper hydration is always important, but even more so after adjustments.

#2 Relax And Don’t Test Your New Mobility

The first thing patients do after a good adjustment is test the area adjusted for improvement. This is the worst thing you can do. A complicated process is initiated when you receive a chiropractic adjustment. Joint receptors flood the nerves and brain with input. As your cerebellum is working to re-coordinate your body position and muscle tone, joints shift, “pop,” and “crack.”

Excessive movement can derail this vital process. Our advice is to just take it easy and don’t start stretching and searching for the pain.

Rest for the next 1-2 hours following treatment is the key to a proper recovery.

#3 Avoid Bad Posture and Slouching

Bad posture and slouching are 90% of what got most people in this mess in the first place. Going home and slouching in your broken-down recliner watching a TV that’s off to your left is a really bad idea.

Sit relaxed, but sit straight and use some extra cushions to support yourself where you need it. Your chiropractor can give you specific instructions for maintaining alignment.

#4 Choose Correctly: Ice or Heat?

For the first 24 hours after your adjustment, consider using ice or heat therapy to manage any soreness.

If you experience inflammation or acute discomfort, applying an ice pack can help reduce swelling.

Alternatively, if you have mild soreness without inflammation, using a heat pack may provide soothing relief.

#5 Avoid The Massage Therapist

Massage goes well with chiropractic. A massage can reduce muscle tension and help you recover but the are a few rules that you should follow to ensure you get the most out of both.

In general, massages can be performed at any time before an adjustment. This will lose muscles and make the adjustment more comfortable. However, if a massage is performed within hours or even a few days after the adjustment, it can reverse the effects of the treatment.

Massaging muscles that have not fully rested can cause them to misalign again very easily. If this happens, go back to your chiropractor immediately to have the subluxations corrected again.

We recommend waiting 3 days after an adjustment before getting a massage. This will ensure enough time has passed for inflammation to reduce and for muscles to have adapted to the changes in tone.

#6 Avoid The Gym (Just For A Few Hours)

Working out is great and I highly recommend it, just not right after an adjustment. Many patients make plans to hit the gym “while they’re out.” Going to the gym after an adjustment significantly increases your chances of re-injury. Not waiting until things have settled makes you more likely to get injured even worse. We recommend waiting 1-2 hours before hitting the gym.

#7 Don’t Skip Your Followup

I send my patients home with instructions on nearly every visit. Most of the time, a follow-up visit isn’t necessary if things are feeling well. However, when a follow-up is recommended it is usually for a good reason.

Some conditions are more involved than others and an experienced chiropractor can usually predict how you are going to respond and whether another visit is needed to achieve your goals.

If your chiropractor recommends a follow-up adjustment, take their advice, schedule the appointment, and show up!

#8 Should I Take Pain Medicine After An Adjustment

Part of the reason for seeing a chiropractor is to correct your problem without drugs or surgery. However, pain and inflammation are not always relieved right away. It’s not against the rules to take an anti-inflammatory medication or pain medication after an adjustment. In most scenarios, an anti-inflammatory medication will provide the most relief, but make sure you can take them according to your medical doctor’s advice.

#9 Get A Good Night’s Sleep

Sleeping is important. After an adjustment, you should be able to get a better night’s sleep, so take advantage of that. Staying up late disrupts sleep and increases overall inflammation, hindering your ability to recover. If you can sleep, do it, and don’t sabotage your recovery.

#10 If You Have Any Concerns, Call Your Chiropractor

Every chiropractor has fielded concerns thousands of times. You probably won’t come up with something they haven’t heard already or have experienced. Get peace of mind, be safe, and call.

Following proper post-adjustment protocols can be vital to the success of your chiropractic treatment. Remember, your chiropractor wants you to be healthy, active, and pain-free. By resting at the right time and taking a few precautions, your chiropractor can get you back to feeling great in no time!