If you’ve scheduled your first chiropractic adjustment, or are considering going to a chiropractor for the first time, you may be wondering what happens after your appointment. Are there special rules to follow or things you shouldn’t do? 

While there aren’t any requirements regarding what to do after your adjustment, there are some tips and hints of things you can do to help make the most of your appointment and even prepare your body for future adjustments.

In this article, we’ll review seven things you should – and shouldn’t – do following your chiropractic adjustment to receive the greatest benefits. 

Should I Stay Hydrated After Visiting the Chiropractor?

While it’s always important to stay hydrated, it’s particularly wise following a chiropractic adjustment. 

Chiropractors manipulate muscles, bones, and joints when providing pain relief and other health benefits. Sometimes during these sessions, toxins are released by the body. Drinking plenty of water can flush out the toxins and allow your body to heal more quickly. If you don’t hydrate yourself, the toxins could settle back in, potentially causing the pain to return. 

Be sure to drink plenty of water in the days following your appointment. Hydration guidelines state that men should drink 125 ounces of water each day, while women are recommended to drink 91 ounces daily.

Should I Exercise After My Chiropractic Appointment?

Movement following a chiropractic appointment stimulates blood flow. The increased amount of oxygen that spreads through your body due to the heightened blood flow assists in healing, which can help speed up the healing process that begins with your adjustment. Try getting active through gentle exercises, like a walk through the neighborhood, a short swim, or a light bike ride.

While some movement is important, too much could be unhealthy. Avoid heavy workouts, vigorous exercises, or weight lifting, particularly in compromising positions. Your chiropractor can help you gauge how much is too much. 

Ask your chiropractor how long you should wait before returning to your regular exercise program. It will depend on your history, your level of fitness, and your chiropractic treatment, but you may be asked to wait a few hours following your appointment or a few days. 

Can I Return to My Athletic Program After My Chiropractic Appointment?

If this is your first chiropractic treatment, it may be best to wait a few days before returning to your usual athletic routine. Explosive movements, such as those involved in jumping or moving weights using a powerful force, should be avoided.  

Your chiropractic appointment may make it feel easier and less painful to perform explosive exercises; however, this short pause in performing these movements allows your joints and skeletal system time to rest and adapt to the adjustment.

Keep in mind, with regular chiropractic adjustments, explosive exercises won’t always need to be avoided following your appointment. Many athletes get chiropractic manipulation performed before their competition or game. It just takes time for the body to adjust to the regular chiropractic care. 

Will My Chiropractor Recommend Exercises?

If you’re new to chiropractic, you may not realize all that is available with the service. Sure, chiropractors manipulate joints and apply pressure to bones and muscles, but there is often more to an appointment than an adjustment.

In some cases, your chiropractor may prescribe specific stretches and exercises to help with your condition, depending on what is bothering you. It’s important to combine in-office treatments with at-home exercises in order to experience the full healing potential of chiropractic care. 

Ask your chiropractor for specific exercises that can help you, particularly if you are hoping to reduce pain or heal from an injury. 

Should I Follow a Certain Diet After a Chiropractic Adjustment?

While your chiropractor most likely won’t prescribe a specific diet, it is wise to choose healthy foods following your chiropractic appointment. While a healthy diet is important regardless of whether you are receiving chiropractic care, it is especially important for the natural healing of your body following a chiropractic adjustment.

Avoid fast foods, fatty or fried meals, processed options, and grains. Instead, eat lean proteins, nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables, and foods that are high in fiber.

Eating healthy foods helps your body recover, replenishing the nutrients it needs, and repairing injuries faster. Eating grains or unhealthy foods can encourage inflammation in the body, which increases pain and slows the healing process. 

Will I Feel Different Following a Chiropractic Adjustment?

If this is your first chiropractic appointment, you may notice that you feel different. You may notice a lessening or complete disappearance of pain that previously plagued you. However, because your body is adjusting to new stimuli, you may also feel other sensations following a chiropractic adjustment.

You may feel tingling or cooling sensations in the muscles of the affected area, which usually relates to the healing process taking place. However, it’s important to pay attention to any changes in your body.

Rest and relax following a chiropractic treatment. If you have any questions about your adjustment or symptoms you experience afterward, be sure to ask your chiropractor. They are there to help you feel safe and comfortable about your treatment and that includes concerns about sensations in your body following an appointment.

Can I Go Back To Work Following a Chiropractic Appointment?

Yes, you can return to work after a chiropractic adjustment; however, if you work at a computer, you should plan times to stand up and move around every hour or so. 

Many people sit all day at work, and that is part of what sent them to the chiropractor to begin with. Most people have poor posture and experience pain after sitting for long periods. A chiropractic adjustment can help with this pain.

After your appointment, avoid prolonged sitting. When you do need to sit, pay attention to your posture. Sit upright with your feet flat on the floor and your knees at right angles. Keep your shoulders pulled back and your elbows close to your sides. Practice good posture not only after a chiropractic appointment, but all the time.

In order to prevent pain and avoid stunting the healing process, stand up every hour or so and take a short walk or do stretches beside your desk. Getting your body moving will help with the healing process.

What Else Should I Know About My Chiropractic Visit?

Following your chiropractic appointment, you should pay attention to the advice your chiropractor provided. In order to heal properly and make the most of your visits, you need to do what was asked of you. 

Hold off on any strenuous activity or returning to athletic practices. Do gentle exercises and be sure to actively complete any stretches or exercises provided by your chiropractor. Eat right and drink plenty of water. 

Most importantly, schedule your next appointment to continue the healing process and ensure that you make the most of your chiropractor’s services. The benefits of chiropractic care are clear. Be proactive in your healing and schedule an appointment online or call (714) 777-3200 today.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for in-person advice or care from a medical professional.