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How to know when you need an adjustment?
The short answer is that you can’t know for sure whether you need a chiropractic adjustment or not, because the symptoms are not always obvious. Chiropractors don’t even know without getting checked by another chiropractor. But there are some tell-tale signs.
Shoulders/Base of Neck
The most common sign of spinal joint restriction in the body that people mention is a tight, restricted feel in your shoulders at the base of the neck, that persists, or keeps coming back. It feels like a massage would help, and it does, but a day later it’s back. This often indicates you have jammed joints at the base of the neck. Looking up at the ceiling can make it worse. If it’s bad enough, you may feel some pain, numbness or pins & needles in your arm or hand. Headaches and dizziness are other common signs of restricted vertebrae and corresponding nerve irritation in this zone. And it is common with people with forward head posture.
Upper Neck
The upper neck is a rotation area, so if this area is restricted, the most common sign is discomfort with rotating the neck (looking to one side). Again, headaches and dizziness can be associated.
Mid Back
Most thoracic restriction comes from sitting slumped and when the bones are stuck the muscles each side of the spine get tight. It may hurt to cough, sneeze or take a deep breath, especially if the associated rib joints are stuck too. Occasionally it may cause a referred pain to the abdominal area. Extending back can be uncomfortable so doing a Cobra stretch for example can make the restriction feel more noticeable.
Low Back
If your lumbar vertebrae or a pelvic joint get jammed, it can result in low back pain, gluteal spasm, sciatica, or even referred groin pain. Painful movements often include bending, getting up from a chair, and rolling over in bed. Often people wake with low back pain after spending hours in bed.
General health
The brain controls everything in the body via the spinal nerves so it stands to reason that having vertebrae ‘out of alignment’ can affect the general health and wellbeing too.
Can you go to the chiropractor if nothing is wrong?
Stefan Becker
Barcelona Chiropractor
