Visiting a chiropractor is becoming commonplace for many Americans today. Indeed, between 2000 and 2003, there was a 57% increase in chiropractic patients. This trend is continuing to grow as lower back pain and other joint and muscle concerns become more common.
Perhaps the jump in chiropractor patient numbers is also due to increased knowledge of the benefits of seeing one of these practitioners. Health and mobility can be improved by seeing a chiropractor, and this is especially helpful to anyone who has a keen interest in fitness or sport.
Athletes can find their performances improve after seeing a chiropractor, even when there was no noticeable problem, to begin with. Soft tissue injuries and joint pain can be helped by chiropractors too, and they are an alternative to invasive surgery.
However, while the advantages of using a chiropractor are relatively well known, less discussed is what happens after you have an adjustment. Will you feel ready to get back to your daily activities, or will you feel fatigued or tired?
What are the after-effects of a chiropractic manipulation?
Lower back pain can affect the quality of life and one study by Science Direct showed that younger adults today are experiencing problems with lower back pain.
This may show that chiropractors can expect more visitors in coming years from younger than expected age groups. When visiting a chiropractor at any age, it is important to understand what the procedures are going to be, and how you will be affected afterward.
One common after-effect of chiropractic manipulation is to feel pain in the areas that were treated. During the treatment, there will be sudden force applied to the problem area. It is not unusual to hear cracking or even the release of gas when this happens. It can sound alarming, but it is perfectly normal.
Afterward, though, you may feel some discomfort in whichever joint was treated, and some patients talk about headaches also.
Toxins are released during a chiropractic adjustment, and this means the body will take time to flush these out. The body also needs to get used to the treatment it has just received, and although there may be some discomfort, it will pass very quickly.
Is it normal to experience fatigue after a visit to a chiropractor?
Another after-effect that is commonly reported is feeling fatigued after a visit to the chiropractor. The toxins mentioned above need to be removed from the body’s system, and this will take a short while to do.
These toxins will cause the nervous system some distress initially, and thus you may feel tired, and suffer from a few other symptoms also. Muscle stiffness and headaches may occur, and you may have a bout of diarrhea too.
The benefits of having a chiropractic adjustment far outweigh the temporary unpleasantness that can follow though. These toxins are not something that you want in your system, and manipulation will help you to get rid of them. Pretty soon you will start to feel the benefits of your adjustment, but you can help yourself with some after-care.
Josh Howe from Northville Chiropractic ensures that his treatments have minimum possible side effects.
When can you return to normal activities?
It may sound like a chiropractic adjustment is a grueling activity with a long recovery time, but in reality, it isn’t so. Some people find that they go straight back into their normal routine instantly.
Others though are recommended to avoid strenuous exercise for a while. In the quest for ultimate fitness, it is normal to overcome setbacks. A back or joint problem may curtail your exercise regime for a while. While this can be frustrating it is critical to know when you can return to full workout mode, and when you should be careful.
Your chiropractor will explain to you when you can resume workouts and start playing sports again. It may be that they say you are ready to go that day, but in the case of a more serious problem, you may be advised to wait.
Swimming can help with pain relief in back problems for some, and your chiropractor will recommend certain exercises and activities to help with your recovery. These are important as chiropractic manipulations can be undone, but proper care can reduce the chance of future problems.
Summary
It might be off-putting to some to think that you may initially feel worse after a chiropractic adjustment. But, the tiredness and fatigue are only going to be experienced for a short period. Many people won’t have these symptoms at all.
Nevertheless, if you do feel tired after your treatment, you can be assured that it is due to the release of toxins into your system. Once these have been flushed away, your energy levels should rise, and the true benefits of your manipulation will become apparent.
Some simple after-care tips can help with a very swift recovery from a chiropractic adjustment with no feelings of tiredness, and importantly, no pain or stiffness.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
