What Happens at the Chiropractor: Adjustments Explained

If you have been referred to a chiropractor, you may be wondering what a chiropractic adjustment is. Chiropractic adjustments are the central focus of chiropractic care and medicine. If you believe that chiropractic care is right for you, our Laurel, MD chiropractor is here to help you.

Physical Exams Explained

At your visit to the chiropractor, you will undergo a physical exam. The exam focuses on the spine. The chiropractor will also pay attention to the areas that are tender or of the most complaint. If you have a complaint about lower back pain, then the chiropractor may perform an exam on your neck. The reason for this is because if you have a subluxation in one area, it can still cause secondary irritation elsewhere in the spine. This exam will involve a variety of different assessments.

You will have to undergo a range of motion tests, reflex testing, muscle strength tests, neurological tests and much more. It is the chiropractor’s job to decide what is causing your pain and what the best course of action will be.

Adjustments

Before you go to the chiropractor’s office, you probably will have already heard of chiropractic adjustments. Adjustments are therapeutic manipulations that use controlled force, leverage, amplitude and direction focused on specific joints. Adjustments involve more than opening up a joint. The chiropractor will perform an adjustment to the spine or other joints. For instance, he or she may focus on the:

  • Ankle
  • Wrist
  • Knee
  • Elbow
  • Shoulder

The reason for these adjustments is to help restore function to a person’s joints. It restores structural alignment so that you have improved joint function. It is important and necessary for proper function and proper extremity function.

Chiropractic Care Plans

After your first chiropractic visit, a chiropractor will usually have a treatment plan in place. The treatment plan will address your issues and the necessary solutions. To form a treatment plan, the chiropractor has to take into consideration your injury and your general health. In addition, he or she will look at the condition of your spine and how it has been affected. The very last and most important thing that the treatment plan takes into consideration is what your goals are for the end of treatment. When your chiropractor suggests a treatment plan, it is fair to ask questions so that you understand the plan.

The Safety of Chiropractic Adjustments

Spinal manipulations are both safe and natural. In fact, chiropractic treatments are far less risky compared with those involving surgery and pain medication. Although it is a newer medical discipline, chiropractors must receive years of schooling and be licensed in order to practice. A wide array of measures is used to protect patients from unintentional harm. It is estimated that 63 million Americans have seen a chiropractor in the last five years. Many of these informed citizens visit chiropractors regularly and do not experience any negative side effects.

Contact Our Laurel Chiropractor Today

A reputable Laurel, MD chiropractor will listen to your concerns and accommodate your wishes to the extent that is reasonable. Contact AmeriWell Clinics today for more information.