Therapeutic / Corrective Exercise
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As if the pain isn’t enough, injury can cause a sudden change of lifestyle. You may no longer be able to participate in the activities you enjoy most. Unfortunately, a single chiropractic session may not be enough to get you back to complete happiness.
It should come as no surprise that a chiropractic doctor will provide you with advice on improving your condition outside of the session. Just like your visit to the office, their suggestions on therapeutic/corrective exercise are noninvasive. You can perform many of the techniques in the comfort of your own home or incorporate them into your daily routine at the office.
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What is therapeutic/corrective exercise?
Therapeutic/corrective exercises which your chiropractor may suggest will help improve your condition when you are home. They base these suggestions on your injury and the affected areas with the sole intent of improving your ability to partake in everyday life. The techniques may also help enhance your body’s ability to heal and put you on the fast track to returning to a pain-free life.
Therapeutic Techniques
Some of the therapeutic practices your chiropractor suggests are sure to be the most enjoyable part of your recovery. Most of them allow you to relax and have the potential to help you forget about your pain for a while.
That’s not the only good news, though. These techniques are likely all things you’re familiar with and easy to perform. Below are just a few examples of what therapeutic practices your chiropractor may suggest:
- Hot and Cold Treatment: This form of therapy is nothing new to anyone. Cooling the area of concern helps to numb the area, helping to relieve pain momentarily. After 10-15 minutes of ice and then switching to heat works to increase blood flow, effectively speeding up the healing process.
- Dietary Management: A poor diet can be detrimental to the body’s healing cycle. Your chiropractor may work with you to set up a new diet or eating habits. A list of vitamins and supplements will be administered that will positively impact the healing process.
- Massage Therapy: During your session, your chiropractor will likely perform some massage therapy to help release tension and improve circulation. It should be no surprise for them to suggest following up with regular massages with foam rollers or in the form of dedicated massage therapy to continue the same effect.
- Ergonomic Changes: You likely already know the harm a poor working station can cause. After all, long hours working on computers are a major reason for chiropractic visits in today’s day and age. The location of your keyboard, the height of your chair, and the layout of your work station can all dramatically impact your ability to heal. Your chiropractor can give you some pointers on arranging this space not to impede the recovery process.
It’s important to remember that these examples are not the extent of what a chiropractor may suggest. Depending upon the severity of your condition you may need a referral for outside treatment.
Infrared treatment, hydrotherapy and ultrasound therapy are all things the doctor can recommend for treating your condition. And while these may all sound outlandish, they remain noninvasive with the intent you help your body recover in the most comfortable way possible.
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Exercise
Exercise is a great way to accelerate the body’s healing process. It can help to improve circulation and strengthen critical areas affected by the injury. It’s also a fantastic way to remain active throughout your recovery. A chiropractor is likely to suggest getting more exercise regardless of the reason for your visit as it’s known to help with back pain and several other issues.
The exercises they will suggest are intended specifically to improve function to engage in activities of your daily life without pain. While they may seem difficult due to your condition, they are as non-strenuous as possible to prevent amplifying the issue.
The location of the issue will warrant the use of different exercises, but regardless of the area, the exercises you perform will emphasize stretching. Light resistance with the use of bands may be a part of your routine as well. As you progress through recovery, the amount of resistance is likely to increase.
If you are an athlete in any capacity, your chiropractor’s exercises will be far less intensive than what you’re used to. With that in mind, they may even suggest you cut back on any workout routines that can exacerbate your injury.
We understand the impact cutting back on exercise has on athletes. Your workouts shape your social life and other significant parts of your daily life. Suddenly having to stop often leads to depression and other mental health issues.
If this is a concern to you, it’s worth at least consulting your chiropractor about active-recovery techniques to determine if they will help you through this period. Some programs exist specifically to help athletes recovering from an injury and are certainly worth the consideration.