Are There Chiropractic Adjustment Side Effects?

When you go to a chiropractor for a spinal adjustment, you hope to leave feeling refreshed, relieved, and relaxed. That's what happens to a lot of people. Others feel more energized and "lighter" than usual, giving them the energy and positive attitude they need to work out or do chores around the house.

Aches and pains, headaches, neck pain, and other aches and pains are common complaints. If you're worried about the side effects of chiropractic adjustments, find out what some of the most common feelings are, why they happen, and if you should be worried.

What is Chiropractic Care?

Chiropractic care is a branch of medicine that focuses on figuring out what's wrong with the musculoskeletal system and how to fix it.  Chiropractors can treat both short-term and long-term pain with a combination of advanced techniques that are meant to help patients heal without surgery or drugs. Work injury chiropractic care can help people of all ages and with a wide range of health problems.

What Happens During a Chiropractic Adjustment?

Misalignment of the spine, also called subluxation, can be fixed by chiropractic adjustments. Many people think you have to move your back and neck joints hard and crack them painfully to do this.

Common Reactions to Chiropractic Adjustments

Most sports injury chiropractic treatment are completely safe. Usually, they start soon after treatment and go away in 24 to 48 hours. Think about how your body might react to a chiropractic adjustment and what you can do to feel better.

Mild Aching or Soreness

This is the most common reaction to a chiropractic adjustment. About two-thirds of all reactions are this one. Joint or muscle pain, especially in the area where the treatment was done, may happen in the first few hours after the treatment and shouldn't last more than 24 hours.

Headaches and Neck Pain

Manipulations of the cervical spine (the neck) are thought to be safe. The goal is to increase joint mobility, restore normal range of motion, reduce muscle spasms, and relieve tension or pressure in the neck.

Detoxification

Adjustments from a chiropractor ease tension and increase blood flow. This, in turn, causes the body to get rid of poisons and toxins. Detoxification can show up on the outside as headaches, tiredness, sniffling, and even a slight fever. Once all the toxins are gone, you should feel refreshed, but it could take a day or two for this to happen.

Spinal Realignment

If you went to a chiropractor for subluxation treatment, realigning your spine may make muscles work that you haven't used in years. Now that these muscles that had gotten weaker are being used again, they may feel sore, just like when you start a new exercise routine.