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Healing Takes Time and Repetition: What to Expect After Your First Few Chiropractic Adjustments!

Published January 26th, 2025 by Dr. Sam Camarata

Starting chiropractic care is an exciting step toward better health and wellness, but it’s important to understand that healing takes time, consistency, and repetition. Just like any other journey, healing is not always linear—you may experience ups and downs along the way. At Camarata Chiropractic & Wellness, our goal is to not only help you feel better but also optimize the function of your brain and body through a well-aligned and moving spine. Let’s talk about what to expect after your first few adjustments and how to support your body throughout the healing process.


Healing Is Non-Linear: Trust the Process

Healing is not always a straight path. You may feel incredible after one adjustment, and then notice soreness or stiffness after another. This is completely normal and part of the process. Here’s why:

  • Post-Adjustment Soreness: As we introduce movement and mobility into joints and tissues that have been tight, restricted, or surrounded by scar tissue, soreness is a natural response. Think of it as your body “waking up” to healthier movement patterns.
  • Feeling vs. Function: Chiropractic care is about both—getting you out of pain (feeling better) and optimizing how your body works (function). While you may notice immediate relief, the real magic happens as we restore proper alignment and nervous system function over time.

Tips for Managing Post-Adjustment Soreness

Taking care of your body after an adjustment can help reduce soreness and support the healing process. Here are some of our favorite tips:

1. Stay Hydrated

Hydration is key! Drinking plenty of water helps flush out toxins released during an adjustment. Add electrolytes like LMNT to replenish vital minerals like sodium, potassium, and magnesium. We have these at our front desk! Dr Sam, Dr Brian and our whole team LOVE these and drink them daily! Read why electrolytes are important here!

2. Keep Moving - Stretch & Strengthening Exercises

Movement promotes healing. Go for a light walk, stretch, or do gentle exercises to prevent stiffness and keep your body aligned. Aim to increase your steps per day and add in just a 15-20 minute stretch and strengthen routine in your morning schedule.

3. Alternate Ice and Moist Heat

Use ice for 15-20 minutes to reduce inflammation, then follow with moist heat (not a heating pad) to improve blood flow and bring nutrients and oxygen to the tissues for faster healing.

4. Try Red Light Therapy

Red light therapy activates mitochondria (your body’s energy producers) to accelerate tissue repair, reduce inflammation, and decrease soreness. Ask the doctors at your next visit which ones they recommend. Dr Sam uses his daily to decrease pain, help with stiffness and improve blood flow and circulation to muscles and joints.

5. Use Our Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna

If you have access to an infrared sauna (we have one here at the office - ask us at your next visit!), it’s a fantastic tool to promote detoxification, reduce pain, and support recovery. Schedule your sauna session here!

6. Get a Massage with Teresa

A massage by a licensed massage therapist, like Teresa here at our office, can help release muscle tension, improve circulation, and complement your chiropractic adjustments. Book your massage with Teresa here!


Phases of Your Chiropractic Journey

Healing with chiropractic care involves different phases, each designed to address specific needs and create lasting change:

1. Relief Phase

  • Focus: Reducing pain and inflammation with more frequent adjustments and soft tissue techniques.
  • Goal: Accelerate your recovery from the current condition and provide initial relief.

2. Corrective Phase

  • Focus: Making lasting changes in your spine, posture, and nervous system.
  • Goal: Rewire your brain and body through neuroplasticity, creating new healthy patterns for better function and mobility. This phase often involves adjustments, corrective exercises, and lifestyle changes.

3. Wellness Phase

  • Focus: Maintaining the progress you’ve worked hard to achieve and setting new goals to achieve!
  • Goal: Make chiropractic care and healthy habits a consistent part of your lifestyle. This phase is about embracing wellness in all areas—positive mindset, nutrition, movement, quality sleep, and regular adjustments to keep your spine and nervous system optimized.

Sharing the Wellness Journey

One of the best ways to stay consistent in your health journey is to share it with family and friends. Healthy families who get adjusted together enjoy the benefits of a wellness lifestyle, supporting each other along the way. Whether it’s regular chiropractic adjustments, exercising together, or encouraging better nutrition, a supportive community makes the process fun and rewarding.


Consistency Is Key

Your body thrives on consistency and repetition. By staying proactive with your chiropractic care, embracing wellness habits, and trusting the process, you’ll not only feel better but function better in every aspect of your life!


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