Chiropractic Massage GuideFeeling Unwell or Tired After Chiropractic Adjustment? 10 Common Questions Answered

• Pain and Discomfort: You may experience temporary pain or discomfort during or after the session due to the pressure and traction applied to soft tissues.
• Physical Injury: Improper technique or excessive force can cause damage to joints, ligaments, or muscles, leading to bruising or hematomas, and potentially even bone or nerve damage.
• Worsening Symptoms: Some individuals may find their symptoms worsen or do not improve as expected after a session.

The level of soreness during a chiropractic adjustment varies depending on the technique, the practitioner's skill, and your individual health and pain tolerance. Here's what you might experience:

• Mild soreness: Many people feel a slight discomfort or pressure during an adjustment. This is caused by the manipulation and pressure applied to soft tissues or joints. This discomfort is usually brief and subsides after the adjustment.
• Moderate soreness: When addressing areas of chronic pain, this type of soreness can result from tissues being moved or realigned. If the pain is strong or lasts for an extended period, you should immediately inform your practitioner.
• Severe soreness: When treating acute or swollen areas, intense soreness can occur with any manipulation because internal tissues may be severely inflamed, or the inflamed tissue may be pressing on nerves. If the soreness is too intense or unbearable, seek medical attention immediately.
• Post-adjustment soreness: You might experience soreness or discomfort for 1-2 days after an adjustment. This is due to minor inflammatory reactions as your body enters a repair state. Post-adjustment soreness typically resolves on its own within 1-3 days.

You will experience some degree of soreness during an adjustment, but a professional practitioner will strive to keep it within a reasonable and acceptable range to ensure safety and comfort throughout the process.

If you experience any discomfort during an adjustment, communicate with your practitioner immediately so they can make adjustments.

Years of poor posture caused my C7, T1, and T2 vertebrae to shift backward, leading to swelling and thickening of the soft tissues around my neck.

De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, commonly known as "mommy thumb" or "mother's wrist," is a condition where overuse of hand tendons and muscles leads to frequent irritation and swelling in the tendon sheath, causing significant pain and restricting hand movement, which can impact daily life.

Statistically, women are six times more likely than men to develop this condition. It's often linked to improper hand use in daily activities, such as repetitive motions like washing clothes or wringing out towels. For new mothers, hormonal changes in late pregnancy make their wrists more susceptible to inflammation. This, combined with excessive wrist flexion or thumb abduction while holding a baby, makes them particularly prone to developing "mommy thumb."

Also known as adhesive capsulitis, this condition involves inflammation of the connective tissue and surrounding tissues within the shoulder joint capsule, leading to shoulder pain and restricted mobility.

Carpal tunnel syndrome, also known as "mouse hand," is a condition caused by overuse of the wrist. Common symptoms include tingling, numbness, and soreness, and in severe cases, it can lead to weakness in both hands and muscle atrophy.

It frequently affects individuals who use a mouse and computer for extended periods in incorrect postures.

Trigger finger, also known as stenosing tenosynovitis, occurs when the tendons and tendon sheaths in the fingers become inflamed and swollen due to repetitive finger movements, leading to pain and stiffness.

Trigger finger is most common in middle-aged women, teachers, writers, artisans, and those who frequently use keyboards. The thumb is most often affected due to its frequent use, followed by the middle and ring fingers.

Typical adjustment sessions last approximately 30-90 minutes, varying based on individual needs, the scope of the adjustment, and the chosen plan. Generally, sessions are categorized as:

• Joint Adjustment: 10-30 minutes
• Partial Adjustment: 30 minutes
• Half-Body Adjustment: 40-60 minutes
• Full-Body Adjustment: 60-90 minutes

You can select the venue's plan and duration according to your specific requirements.

• Osteoporosis patients: Those with osteoporosis have fragile bones, making intense manipulation unsuitable.
• Acute fracture or dislocation patients: Acute injuries require initial stabilization and rest; immediate manipulation is not appropriate.
• Tumor patients: Patients with tumors may have bone or soft tissue lesions, making manipulation unsuitable.
• Individuals with clotting disorders or those taking anticoagulants: These patients are prone to bleeding, making manipulation unsuitable.
• Women in early or late pregnancy: Fetal instability in early pregnancy and excessive abdominal pressure in late pregnancy both make manipulation unsuitable.
• Cardiovascular disease patients: Those with a history of severe heart disease, severe high blood pressure, or stroke are not suitable for manipulation.
• Patients with severe chronic illnesses: Individuals with severe asthma, mid-to-late stage diabetes, or cancer are not suitable for manipulation.

If you are unsure whether your current condition is suitable for manipulation, you can discuss it with the practitioner beforehand to confirm before proceeding.

If you have any special health conditions, such as a major illness, history of surgery, pregnancy, cardiovascular disease, or osteoporosis, you should inform the therapist in advance.

Before your chiropractic adjustment, avoid strenuous physical activity or exercise, as this could worsen any discomfort during the session.

Stay relaxed and avoid anxiety or tension. The adjustment process isn't scary, so there's no need to worry too much.

Wear loose, comfortable clothing, and avoid anything too tight.

Before your treatment, avoid eating too much, being too hungry, or drinking alcohol, as these can cause discomfort during the pressing and adjusting of your session.

After a chiropractic adjustment, there's typically a 1-3 day recovery period. You can adjust your exercise type and intensity based on the treated area and your individual recovery speed:

• Joint or Bone Adjustments: After treatment, it's crucial to avoid excessive force to prevent the adjusted joints or bones from shifting again. Light exercise, such as walking, is recommended.
• Muscle or Soft Tissue Adjustments: Soft tissue has a longer recovery period and requires more rest. Avoid overexertion during this time. Light exercise, such as stretching, is recommended.

It's advisable to rest for 1-3 days after an adjustment. If you wish to exercise, opt for light activities like walking or stretching, and avoid moderate to high-intensity workouts to prevent re-injury.

Whether you can get a massage after a chiropractic adjustment depends on the type of adjustment you received:

• Joint or bone adjustments: Since these primarily focus on realigning joints or bones, it's generally fine to get a massage afterward. Just be sure to inform your massage therapist about your recent adjustment so they can avoid applying heavy pressure to the newly adjusted areas.
• Muscle or soft tissue adjustments: After this type of adjustment, your muscles and soft tissues may feel a bit sore or swollen. Since massage also works on muscles and soft tissues, it's not recommended to get a massage immediately afterward. If you do want a massage, opt for gentle techniques like oil massage and avoid overly intense methods that could injure the muscles or soft tissues.

In summary, while gentle massage techniques may be an option after a chiropractic adjustment, it's generally best to prioritize rest.

If you experience dizziness after a body adjustment, it may be due to dehydration or low blood sugar, especially if the adjustment involved intense or vigorous techniques, or if you hadn't eaten or drunk for a long time beforehand. Here's how to address post-adjustment dizziness:

• Rest immediately: If you feel dizzy, sit or lie down right away. Avoid standing or making sudden movements. This helps stabilize blood pressure and ease the dizziness.
• Rehydrate and refuel: Drink water or have a small snack before and after your adjustment.
• Breathe deeply: Deep breathing can help alleviate dizziness caused by tension during the adjustment. Try to stay calm and relax your body and mind during the session.

Overall, dizziness after a body adjustment can be relieved with rest, hydration, and deep breathing. If dizziness persists or is accompanied by other severe symptoms, seek medical attention promptly to ensure your safety.

After a chiropractic adjustment or massage, your muscles will enter a 1-3 day recovery period, and soreness is a natural part of the healing process. If you find the post-adjustment soreness uncomfortable, you can try the following methods to alleviate it:

• Rest and Relaxation: Allow your muscles sufficient time to rest and recover. Avoid overuse or placing additional strain on them.
• Ice or Heat Packs: Within 24 hours after your adjustment, if you experience swelling or acute discomfort, use an ice pack to reduce inflammation and soothe pain. Apply ice for 15-20 minutes at a time. After the acute phase, you can use a heat pack to relax muscles and promote blood circulation. Apply heat for 15-20 minutes at a time.
• Gentle Stretching: Engage in some light stretching exercises, which can help promote blood circulation and reduce muscle soreness.

Muscle soreness after a chiropractic adjustment or massage is usually temporary and can be relieved through rest, relaxation, gentle stretching, and ice or heat packs. If the soreness persists or worsens, or if you experience any other uncomfortable symptoms, you should promptly communicate with your practitioner or seek medical attention.