Chiropractic care for the rest of your life is for the best of your lifeRecently I was asked, “Don’t you just have to keep getting adjusted forever? I mean, what good is that?!” This idea of becoming addicted to adjustments or needing them to keep feeling good is not uncommon in people who have been to a chiropractor or those who know someone else who has been under chiropractic care. Many people have no problem taking high blood pressure, diabetes, heart, digestive, cholesterol or other medications regularly, so why should they have a problem with those who see a chiropractor on a regular basis?Let’s address the question of need for regular chiropractic care.Just as in every other field there are both good and bad chiropractors. Some are not very specific in the way they adjust the spine. They do more of a general mobilization treatment that “loosens you up.” While this can be very effective at temporarily relieving some symptoms, it rarely accomplishes long-lasting improvement. The result is that the patient finds him or herself needing to be adjusted on a more regular basis in order to not feel bad again.Second, it is possible that the chiropractor is, in fact, a good and specific adjuster, but he or she never gives instruction about how certain aspects of attitude and lifestyle can continually re-create problems (or maybe the patient just doesn’t DO those things). The result is the same in that one would continually have to get adjusted to keep from feeling bad.The third possibility is that people wait so long to get care that the only thing the chiropractor can do is provide a little relief and keep them from getting worse. If that is the case, then getting adjusted regularly is a great alternative to using drugs or surgery.It is also possible that people who continually go to the chiropractor have received excellent care in every way and realize there is a difference between not being sick and being optimally well! In that case, the only thing they are “addicted to” is being healthy, happy and full of life! We should all be so lucky to be addicted to those things.All of these explanations are valid, but they only apply to the person who sees chiropractic as a treatment for some kind of pain or other malady.Let’s look at this differently. When someone works out and becomes fit and healthy, does he say to himself, “I’m glad I never have to work out again!” Of course not! If someone visits the dentist and doesn’t have any cavities, does she say, “Wonderful, no more brushing and flossing for me!” When you wake up after a good night’s sleep, totally rested and refreshed, do you think to yourself, “All right! Now I never have to sleep again!” Of course, these are ridiculous questions. Just because someone brushes their teeth every day, sleeps every night and works out regularly doesn’t mean they are addicted to clean teeth, sleep and exercise. They understand that doing all of these things on a regular basis, along with all of their other healthy lifestyle habits, and keeping a positive attitude will ensure they are their best each day.The same is true of getting your spine adjusted by your chiropractor. Because of the intimate connections between your spine and your nerve system, making sure your spine is well-aligned and functioning properly helps ensure your brain is in contact with every part of your body and your whole body can function at the highest level.Getting adjusted for the rest of your life helps you experience the BEST of your life!Palmer Chiropracticwww.palmer-chiropractic.com719-494-1395
