One of the most common questions our patients ask is how long it will take before they start feeling better. This is actually quite a complex question, because there are many factors that play a role in determining how long it will take to notice improvements with chiropractic care.
Patient’s Age
Age is a significant factor that can affect the length of time it takes to feel better. Older patients with longer-standing issues and advanced spinal degeneration may take longer to respond to treatment and observe the benefits of improving nerve function.
The Three T’s
Lifestyle stressors are responsible for causing spinal subluxations, which are the primary reasons most patients seek chiropractic care. Reducing stress can speed up healing and help patients hold their adjustments. The three T’s—Trauma, Thoughts, and Toxins—are the sources of ongoing stress that patients should aim to reduce. Here’s a look at each:
1. Trauma - refers to physical stresses. Micro-trauma refers to small repetitive stresses, such as sitting too much, poor posture, excess time spent on a smartphone, computer or tablet, or repetitive movements that may be required to perform your job or engage in a recreational activity. Macro-trauma refers to larger stresses like slips or falls, car accidents or sports injuries.
2. Thoughts – when you are under chronic mental or emotional stress (job or relationship stress for example), it will slow your healing and recovery and prolong how long it takes for you to start to hold your adjustments.
3. Toxins - excessive exposure to toxins, such as cigarette smoke, alcohol or poor dietary choices (processed foods), will undermine your progress and delay relief and recovery.
Hydration
Staying hydrated by drinking lots of water throughout the day will promote healing and reduce inflammation. A dark yellow urine color indicates dehydration, while a light yellow or straw color indicates adequate hydration. It’s also important to avoid alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverages; doing so will reduce inflammation.
Sleep
Getting enough sleep each night is crucial for improving chiropractic results. Sleep is essential for allowing the body to repair and heal itself, which is necessary for optimal spinal health. To accelerate healing and recovery, prioritize a sleep schedule and aim to get 7-9 hours of restful sleep each night.
Body Composition
Excess body weight can put undue stress on the spine or joints and impede recovery. Optimizing body composition can reduce pain-causing inflammation and reduce mechanical load on the body.
Stretch and Strengthen
When you spend 15-20 minutes every day on some simple movements to increase your spinal strength and flexibility, you will notice the results of your adjustments will be amplified.
Maximize the Benefits of Your Care
Patients who embark on a program of chiropractic adjustments can expect good results if they are patient and follow through with their treatment plan. To move results from good to better, however, it’s important to take steps to address the factors listed above.
We encourage patients to work with us to identify areas where they can improve their health and accelerate their recovery. By doing so, they can enjoy the benefits of chiropractic care more quickly and maintain their results longer.
Take that first step toward feeling better. Contact our practice today to book an appointment!
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