Chiropractic Rehabilitation: What to Expect As You Recover
Many people often resort to DIY treatments, but it may not always be the solution, especially if you sustain pain or injury. Although pain may ease with time, taking a clinical action helps determine the underlying cause of recurring injuries. Without medical intervention, pain caused by an injury may not resolve on its own and could potentially result in more serious health problems.
Untreated pain and injuries can become a chronic problem. It limits your ability to move your joints and muscles due to excruciating pain. This can have a negative impact on your quality of life.
Chiropractic rehabilitation is designed to restore a patient’s ability to function. While there are various treatments available, ranging from pain relievers to surgery, chiropractic rehabilitation is a non-invasive approach that goes straight to the source of the pain. It includes a variety of therapy including spinal manipulation, myofascial release using foam rollers, and simple stretches and exercises to strengthen the affected muscles and ligaments so that they can protect the joints from further injury.
Seeking Chiropractic Rehabilitation
When seeking rehabilitation, a chiropractor may recommend you completing a series of thorough health evaluation, such as X-ray and physical examination. The results of these examinations can help identify the cause of the problem and design an appropriate rehabilitation plan to restore your health. Typically, the chiropractor will divide the treatment and rehabilitation process into three phases:
- Phase One: Pain Relief
Whether you experience severe lower back pain, nauseating migraines, or an injured joint, the chiropractor’s first approach is to reduce pain or discomfort. Depending on the severity and cause, the chiropractor will recommend the patients two to three appointments each week before they can start to feel relief. The first phase usually lasts between four to 12 weeks.
- Phase Two: Corrective Care
After weeks of chiropractic care, the affected muscles and tissues continue to heal. The chiropractor will proceed to the restorative phase, which focuses on restoring mobility, improving posture, and preventing further injury. The corrective care program includes stretching, strengthening and balance training, increasing flexibility, and metabolic and cardiovascular exercises. The frequency of visits can range from four times a month for half a year to more than eight times a month for two years.
- Phase Three: Wellness Checkup
The chiropractor still recommends patients for periodic adjustments after the completion of the rehabilitation. Quick sessions can vary between one to four times a month to help patients prevent re-injuring themselves, maintain progress, and pinpoint potential relapses.
Oftentimes, patients wonder about the length of the recovery period after receiving chiropractic rehabilitation. Just like other medical treatments, the recovery period is unique for every patient. The effects of chiropractic care will depend on the severity of the injury, treatment plan, and the patient’s ability to respond to the treatment.
People with minor pain or injury getting spinal manipulations can immediately feel pain relief while others with more serious injuries can expect longer recovery times. Take the following examples:
- Fractured bones take five to six weeks to heal
- Torn ligaments or tendons of the spine take about six to eight weeks
- Injuries related to spinal discs or cartilage could take three months or so
When seeking chiropractic treatment and rehabilitation for severe pain or injury, make sure to meet with a chiropractor in Scarborough. As patients, it is important to understand that pain might alleviate, but the injured muscles and bones still require time to heal. Continue communicating with your trusted chiropractor and you will be on your way to full recovery.
