Get the best from your care! 23rd February 2017
As you may already know, Chiropractic care is fantastic for reducing pain, getting you more mobile, and helping to keep your brain and nervous system working at its optimal level. But what do you need to do in between your adjustments to maintain and accelerate your progress?
Below are 5 ways to help YOU to get the absolute maximum benefit from YOUR Chiropractic care.
1. Drink plenty of water after treatment: Making sure that you are fully hydrated has a never-ending list of benefits, but after treatment drinking plenty of water is particularly important to ensure that the joints are well lubricated and that your muscles have maximum energy. It can also help you to decrease any post-treatment discomfort.
2. Use ice to ease soreness: After you have been adjusted, it’s normal to feel some discomfort or soreness in around 40% of cases. Using ice for 15-20 minutes, up to 5 times per day can really help to decrease inflammation in the joints, muscles and nerves. Just be sure to leave an hour in between applications and always have a towel between the ice pack and your skin to avoid any nasty ice burns!
3. Stretch regularly: Stretching regularly between sessions helps you to maintain the mobility gained during your sessions. Try doing 5-10 minutes of stretching every morning and evening for maximum benefit! Please speak with your chiropractor if you are unsure which exercises are best for you.
4. Perform a Daily Core Strength Routine: When you move into your second phase of care, your Chiropractor will recommend a series of core rehabilitation exercises to help strengthen your muscles and aid the prevention of further injury. Performing core exercises daily will help to maintain the progress that you have achieved in phase 1 and will help you to build a ‘Bulletproof Spine’ that’s ready for any challenge that life throws at it.
5. Keep Moving! : After you perform your morning stretching and exercise routine, it’s important that you remember to keep mobile throughout the day. Sitting down for long periods is a recipe of disaster for your body and will cause your joints and muscles to stiffen over time. Keep moving by having regular ‘posture breaks’. A posture break can be as simple as standing up from your desk for 15 seconds and gently stretching before continuing your work. If you keep forgetting, set a reminder on your phone to go off every 20-30 minutes or try sticking a post-it note on your screen or car dashboard to remind you that it’s time to move!
So, there you have it. 5 tips to help you get the most out of your Chiropractic care. Ask your Chiropractor or Massage Therapist for further information, tips and advice to keep your spine healthy.
By Chris Pitcher, Chiropractor. Stoke-on-Trent Chiropractic and Wellness Clinic
