Dos And Don't Of Assessing Your Range Of Motion After A Chiropractic Adjustment
Following a chiropractic adjustment, one of the things you'll want to do is determine how effective the treatment was. You'll often be able to judge the adjustment's efficacy by assessing your range of motion. For example, if you had a stiff back that prohibited you from comfortably bending over to tie your shoes, you'll want to know if your range of motion is greater as a result of the treatment. It's important to always listen to your chiropractor's instructions for post-treatment care. You want to ensure that your actions promote healing, rather than risk partially negating the benefits of the treatment you just experienced. Here are some dos and don'ts for assessing your range of motion.
Don't: Be In A Rush To Move Aggressively
If you're curious about any increased range of motion that has occurred as a result of the adjustment, you may wish to contort your body aggressively to note whether you can do so without pain. This, however, is generally a bad idea. Following an adjustment, you need to be gentle with your spine, given the changes that it has just gone through. The last thing you want to do is contort yourself aggressively to assess the ease of doing so.
Do: Exercise, But Not Too Vigorously
Performing some gentle exercise can be an effective way to evaluate your range of motion and whether your back pain has diminished as a result of the chiropractic adjustment. Many chiropractors will advise their patients to exercise moderately after a treatment. Walking, for example, can be suitable because it isn't so vigorous that it may risk harming the back. As you walk, you'll often be able to gauge your ease of doing so; for example, perhaps your back would get sore after 20 minutes of walking in the past, and now you're able to surpass that timeframe.
Do: Make Notes To Share During Your Next Appointment
It's worthwhile to keep a notebook about how you feel after your chiropractic adjustment. Detail things such as when you notice pain and when you're enjoying an activity without pain. During your next adjustment, you can then share these details with the chiropractor. This information may allow your back care professional to slightly alter his or her approach with future adjustments, thus helping you move past your back discomfort quicker. If you have any specific aftercare questions, be sure to ask your chiropractor before you leave the clinic after an adjustment.
For more information, contact companies like Olson Chiropractic Centers.