Chiropractic adjustments are more than a simple realignment of the spine and vertebrae, they help to maximise your entire body’s healing process. Before your adjustment, I recommend you devote several minutes to rest at the beginning of your visit to get the maximum benefit. Five minutes lying on the chiropractic table before your appointment will result in better treatment.
Why Pre-Adjustment Rest Matters
Lying down for a few minutes before your adjustment helps decompress the spine and also helps to relax the soft tissue structures (muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia) that help you get the best results from your Chiropractic adjustment.
The spine faces constant pressure from physical activities such as sitting and standing and body movements, which can produce spinal misalignment and tension in your body. Before chiropractic care begins, those few minutes spent lying flat enable gradual spine decompression through the power of gravity.
The Mind-Body Connection: Reducing Nervous System Overload
Another reason I advise this is also to ensure the brain and nervous system are away from visual stimuli that may overexcite the nervous system.
We live in a world filled with constant stimulation like screens, bright lights, noise, and stress. You need to move your attention away from distractions before receiving an adjustment to enable proper nervous system relaxation.
A decrease in visual and mental stimulation improves your body’s ability to receive and integrate chiropractic therapy benefits. This means sessions provide longer-lasting results with optimal alignment.
We recommend you try and calm your mind and relax your nervous system with some rhythmic breathing, meditation or vagal nerve regulation.
Ask about tips on these techniques at your next adjustment!
An example I use is the 4 4 4 4 breathing method – breathe in through your nose for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, breathe out through your mouth for 4 seconds and hold for 4 seconds. Repeat.
It’s a technique called box breathing. Athletes, meditators and even first responders employ this breathing technique to calm their nervous system. You can boost your focus as well as relaxation, and body awareness by practising box breathing for only one minute before your adjustment starts.
Maximising the Benefits of Your Chiropractic Care
Anything you can do to increase the efficacy of your adjustment is a powerful act.
Overall, this short period of rest before the adjustment can help set the stage for a more effective chiropractic experience.
Make pre-adjustment rest a habit and allow your body to optimise its realignment process. Enhance both your immediate results and long-term outcomes of your chiropractic treatment.
Your spine will thank you!
