You've just arrived home from your visit with the chiropractor and feel wonderful. Your headache is gone, your neck and back feel great, and your limbs are loose and limber.  You feel nice and relaxed, like you should eat a quick dinner and cozy on into bed.  Here are a few tips after your adjustment.

Take It Easy

Although you may feel like you could do absolutely anything after your adjustment, participating in strenuous exercise or activities could undo the results of your treatment and delay healing. Strenuous activities, like weightlifting or replacing the toilet in the guest bathroom, could cause subluxations, in the vertebrae in your back. When the vertebrae aren't correctly aligned, stress on your soft tissues and nerves increases, causing pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion. Walking would be a great idea after your adjustments.

Do Your HOMEWORK

You can't use the excuse, "My dog ate my homework", anymore!  Your chiropractic care plan probably includes exercises and stretches designed to enhance and prolong the effects of your adjustments.  Remember, this is a You- Me - We process, and in order to speed up your recovery time, you have to do your homework.  

Drink Up

Chiropractic adjustments may release toxins that your body needs to dispose of. Once the toxins are released, they're naturally eliminated from the body. Drinking water speeds the removal of toxins from your body, and can help lubricate your joints and tissues.

Focus on Your Movements and Posture

Smooth, fluid movements are important after an adjustment. Jerky or abrupt movements can also lead to strained or stressed tissues, joint pain, or subluxations.  After being adjusted regularly, you'll more than likely, you'll find yourself moving smooth and fluid anyways.  Adjustments help improve your biomechanics (how you move) because you're improving the overall function of your nervous system.  So your body is naturally going to become more efficient.

Nurture Your Body with Healthy Food

Look, I know that nobody is perfect and we all like to enjoy food but you have to reduce or eliminate sugar in your diet.  Added sugars are of no benefit to you when you're trying to improve your health.  Added sugars and processed foods keep the inflammation levels in your body very very high which can slow your progress and cause more health concerns.

Now, if Chiropractic Care is the FIRST thing you're adding to your repertoire of health then stick with that and make it a routine.  After your Chiropractic Care is solidified in your routine, you should start making other changes; daily walks, cutting out processed foods, decreasing sugar.  

In addition to following aftercare recommendations, sticking to the doctor's recommendations will help you avoid pain, improve overall function of your body, and help you make more progress in your health.