Chiropractic therapy is a popular solution to back and neck problems, although patients may endure discomfort following a session.
If you’ve ever left a chiropractor’s office feeling sore, you’re probably wondering if this is normal or if anything went wrong.
Is it normal to feel sore after the chiropractor?
The quick answer is yes, it’s normal to be minor pain following a chiropractic adjustment, and here’s why:
Chiropractic adjustments straighten the spine and joints, which may cause temporary discomfort. This is part of your body’s normal reaction to the changes that have occurred. Your muscles, nerves, and joints may require some time to get used to their new positions, which might cause little discomfort. This discomfort is generally temporary, lasting anywhere from 24 to 48 hours, and can be treated with easy home treatments such as rest, stretching, or cold / heat compress.
There are various reasons why you may be uncomfortable after a chiropractic visit.
Let’s look at some of the more popular causes
Muscles Are Reengaging:
If your spine or joints are out of alignment, your body may neglect or overstimulate certain muscles to compensate for the imbalance. Following an adjustment, these muscles either re-engage or relax, based on the correction done. This sudden shift might feel comparable to the discomfort felt after an exercise, in which lower back muscles are engaged in different ways. In simple terms, your body is learning to utilize the proper muscles again, which might cause temporary discomfort.
Getting Used To A New Posture
Similar to how it takes time for your body to adjust to a new pair of shoes, it too needs time to adjust to its new posture following a chiropractic treatment. Your spine may have been crooked for a long time, and your body has become accustomed to this wrong position. Returning your spine to its natural alignment may cause discomfort as your muscles, joints, and nerves adjust to their new placements. Consider the stiffness you could experience after obtaining braces on your teeth: the discomfort indicates that your body is changing to a healthier position.
Nerve Reset
Nerve issues are not as common as the potential causes above, but still something to be aware of. When your spine is straightened, the nerves which were previously squeezed or stretched may require time to adjust to their new surroundings. This recalibration procedure may cause slight discomfort or tingling feelings, which are usually not cause for concern. However, if the soreness lingers or intensifies, you should see your chiropractor to confirm that everything is going as it should.
If you’re wondering if a chiropractor help with a pinched nerve, the answer is yes!
When Should I Become Concerned?
- If you have extreme pain, numbness, loss of mobility, or any other unexpected symptoms following an adjustment, get medical treatment.
- The general rule is if pain or loss of mobility is holding you back from completing everyday tasks this is cause for concern. These might indicate a more serious problem, such as a misalignment or nerve injury, and should not be overlooked.
Managing Post-treatment Soreness
The good news is that most post-chiropractic discomfort may be alleviated with easy home remedies – reducing inflammation is never a bad course of action when recovering.
Final Thoughts
Chiropractic care is intended to enhance your health and decrease discomfort, but like with any treatment, your body may require some time to fully adjust. Maintain open conversation with your chiropractor about any symptoms you’re experiencing so that they can personalize your treatment to your specific requirements.
To get a better understanding of where your back pain could be coming from, check out –> Back Pain Location Chart: Identifying The Pain.

BackStop Chiropractor

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