A chiropractic appointment generally takes 15 to 30 minutes, but your first visit will last an hour or so, since the chiropractor will take time to discuss and record your health history, perform other preliminary procedures, make a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan. You may or may not receive treatment on your first visit.
Your doctor of chiropractic will adapt the treatment plan to meet your specific needs. The chiropractor most often uses his or her hands to manipulate the joints of the body, particularly the spine, to reduce pain and restore or enhance joint function. The adjustment generally consists of an expertly designed movement to the joint. You'll most likely hear a popping sound—similar to the cracking your knuckles. This should not cause any pain and often produces immediate relief.
Other treatments, including therapeutic ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation, ice and heat, traction, soft-tissue massage and rehabilitative exercises, may also be used.
Heat can help relax muscle spasms and relieve chronic pain. Ultrasound involves the use of high frequency on soft-tissue injuries. The sound waves penetrate and may warm tissues deep in the body. Electrical muscle stimulation uses an electric current to reduce pain and muscle spasm. The chiropractor may also recommend a regimen of at-home exercises.
The extent and duration of the patient's problems coupled with the hands-on nature of the chiropractic treatment may require numerous visits. Your doctor of chiropractic should tell you how long you can expect the treatment to last. Treatment may involve several visits a week for two or three weeks or more. Chiropractic care is usually most effective (especially for low-back symptoms) in the first few weeks. If you don't feel like the treatments are working after a few weeks of receiving them, you should report this to your chiropractor.
What It Will Feel Like
With the popping, you will probably feel a sense of relief. A few patients report experiencing some muscular soreness or mild discomfort, particularly if the body is tense or if the surrounding muscles are in spasm. Don't worry if you are sore after an adjustment—it's perfectly normal and usually can be relieved by putting a cold pack on the sore area. But if the pain continues more than a day or two, you should call your chiropractor. He or she may need to change your treatment. Many people say they feel relaxed and exhilarated after an adjustment—and that's also normal.
Potential side effects of chiropractic depend on the type of treatment used, as well as the duration and severity of the problem, and may include temporary headaches, fatigue and soreness in the area that was manipulated. The chances of serious complications, such as stroke, are extremely low. However, there have been some reported cases of paralysis, blindness and very rarely, even death following chiropractic care. The American Chiropractic Association stresses that when an adverse reaction does occur, it is often the result of the procedure being performed by someone inadequately trained in spinal manipulation, rather than by a licensed chiropractor.
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Author: Editorial Staff of the National Women's Health Resource Center