Back pain can be excruciating. And when it strikes, it can negatively affect your sleep, productivity, and even your mental health. Though many people are reluctant to try it for the first time, seeing a chiropractor can be a safe and effective way to relieve pain.

Although you may not feel better right away, often people report feeling some improvement right after their first appointment. But if you’ve never seen a chiropractor before, you may have questions about what exactly happens during an adjustment.

What Is Chiropractic Adjustment?

A chiropractic adjustment is a gentle, hands-on technique that involves applying a specific force to a specific point in the spine. It is designed to realign the vertebrae, the bones that make up the spine.

This realignment can relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves, which leads to a reduction in pain and a return to normal function.

How Does Chiropractic Adjustment Work?

Imagine that your spinal cord is all wrapped up in a tight blanket. If you have a lot of stress in your life, or if you have a job that requires you to sit in one position for a long time, this tight blanket can pull on the spinal cord and make it difficult or impossible for the different parts of your brain to communicate with each other.

When your brain can’t communicate normally with the rest of your body, you may experience pain, weakness, or even emotional problems.

The chiropractic adjustment is a safe, effective option that has been proven to help with a number of health issues including back pain, neck pain, and headaches.

Will It Hurt?

For most people, adjusting is a very comfortable experience, and it can even be relaxing. In fact, many patients actually report a sense of well-being after their first adjustment.

While you may experience some discomfort during the adjustment, it is meant to produce a healing response.

Many patients report feeling immediate relief from muscle tension after their adjustment, and when you have a healing response, your body will tend to heal more quickly.

What Should I Expect?

Patients should wear loose clothing to their appointment. Before your appointment, we will take a few minutes to complete any paperwork, and then you will sit in a comfortable, armless chair. The doctor applies a small amount of force to a specific point in the spine.

This force is designed to realign the vertebrae, which in turn moves the pressure off of the spinal cord or nerves. Once the vertebra is aligned, the spine is better able to support the weight of your body.

Your body will naturally move into a healthy posture after an adjustment, so there’s no need to worry about trying to hold a certain position.

What Are the Potential Risks of Adjustments?

There are very few risks associated with chiropractic adjustments. The most common side effect is feeling sore in the area of the adjustment. This usually subsides after a few hours.

You may also experience temporary headaches, toothaches, muscle pain, or fatigue—these side effects are usually mild and should subside after a short period of time.

Conclusion

Chiropractic adjustments are a safe and effective way to heal your body. They can help release pressure on your spinal cord or nerves and reduce pain and other symptoms that may be negatively affecting your health.

If you’re experiencing health issues that may be caused or exacerbated by misalignment in your spine, talk to Kindspine. We are a back pain chiropractor in Atlanta that will help you find relief. Call us today to schedule an appointment or learn more about how chiropractic can improve your health.