What to expect at an adjustment

For someone who has never experienced chiropractic care, seeking out an adjustment may be intimidating. Just like any trip to the doctor’s office, you will be led into a private exam room. This room will most likely contain furniture that resembles a comfy masseuse table or chair. This is because you are often asked to lie on your stomach or on your back and relax during the adjustment.

The chiropractor will address your pain issues and concerns while explaining the treatments he or she is able to offer you. The doctor may ask you some questions about your help history or go over any x-rays that you have had taken. The chiropractor will position you on the table while explaining exactly what he or she is about to do. Once you are comfortable, the chiropractor begins your treatment.

Neck adjustments are performed by manipulating your cervical vertebrae in order to improve mobility in the joints. This is done one of two ways in our office.  The traditional way is to have the patient lie on their back and gently but quickly rotate the neck.  The other way we adjust the neck is by having the patient lie face down and adjusting by pushing straight down gently on specific vertebrae.  The latter is much gentler and is also safe for patients that can’t tolerate traditional adjustments.

There are several ways to achieve a lower back adjustment. One typical fashion is to have the patient lay on his or her back and gently rotate the hips so that one leg is over the other and the patient’s lower body is resting on the hip. Again, you may hear some snaps and cracks from your joints, but there is no pain felt in this type of adjustment. Lumbar adjustments can also be performed without any rotation at all, which is especially effective for disc conditions.

Although not generally considered part of the spinal column, shoulders can play an important role in spinal health. A misalignment in the shoulder could cause back pain, neck pain or headaches. Typically, this type of adjustment is done while the patient is sitting up comfortably on the examination table. The chiropractor manipulates the shoulder in order to shift the joint backwards or forwards and create better alignment. This will help to improve a patient’s posture which will help with overall spinal alignment. This type of adjustment is especially good for anyone who spends most of their time sitting at a desk.

If you are unsure if chiropractic care is the right fit for you then give Dr. Jenkins a call! At Jenkins Chiropractic, the first step is an initial consultation to determine whether or not chiropractic care is best for you. You can reach us at (319) 393-4303. Our Cedar Rapids office is conveniently located off council St. Learn more about us here.