Once a patient’s pain has been relieved and their problem has been fixed as much as possible, patients always want to know where to go from here.
The long term success of their chiropractic care depends on a number of elements.
Have they corrected any postural issues that may have caused their pain?
What exercises should they perform to help stabilize their spine? Should they continue with regular chiropractic visits?
Most of the problems that I see in the office are not the result of trauma, such as a car accident or a fall, they are most commonly caused by bad posture that resulted in repetitive stress over time. The way we sit, stand and sleep all affects our spine and can cause damage over time. It is important that all postural imbalances have been corrected so that the problems do no return. If you have any questions about the proper way to sit at your desk or the best position to sleep in, feel free to ask your doctor.
Exercise also plays an important role during your chiropractic care and should be continued after you have finished your treatment plan. Your doctor should give you instructions on which exercises to perform to both strengthen and add flexibility to your spine. For example, if you have lower back pain, your doctor will likely recommend stretches for you hamstrings and glut muscles, as well as core strengthening.
Finally, once you have completed your initial treatment plan, most chiropractors will recommend that you continue your chiropractic care on a maintenance basis. This usually involves an adjustment about once per month to make sure that your spine is staying in the proper position and that everything is moving properly. This allows your chiropractor to find and fix any problems you may have before they begin to cause pain.
Once you’ve completed your treatment plan, remember that correcting your posture, performing the proper exercises and getting maintenance chiropractic adjustments all play an important role in keeping you pain free for as long as possible.