By Hannah Dale: Chiropractor Victoria Point Chiropractic
Most people begin seeing a chiropractor to address a specific problem or injury, but what comes next?
Chiropractic care can be broken down into three phases, with the overall aim to decrease neck, back, joint pain but to also improve and maintain spinal function. Your condition, age, stress load and lifestyle determine how much care will be required.
When patients initially see a chiropractor, their muscles may be in spasm and joints inflamed, so the immediate focus is to relieve pain and manage injuries. During this first phase of care gentle well tolerated activity is encouraged and visits are spaced closer together whilst we work to restore movement to the spine.
Chiropractors are very good at relieving pain, so patients question why they should continue care when pain and other symptoms subside. The answer is that muscle and soft tissue damage often persist. Strength, stabilisation and rehabilitation are the essential goals of a chiropractor during this second phase of care. Strengthening postural muscles, encouraging regular movement, and reducing lifestyle stressors help to stabilise the changes made so far and decrease the risk of reinjury. During this phase, chiropractors also educate patients on how to be more aware of their body and early signs a problem may be starting. Visits are spaced out.
Finally, in the third phase of care a chiropractor’s long-term goal is to keep you moving, feeling and functioning optimally. As we go back to lifestyle and workplace activities after recovering from injury, we could be putting the same forces on the body that caused the initial injury. When our bodies move well it’s easier to exercise regularly, sleep better and have more energy for our friends and family.
Regular chiropractic care throughout the year helps our bodies to be adaptive and resilient to the stresses that come our way.
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