By Dr. Cory G. Powers

I don’t want you to come in for your next visit just because I told you to.  I would much rather have you come to see me because you have learned to listen to what your body is really telling you about the need for another adjustment … and by this, I don’t mean that I want you to come in when you throw your back out or when you wake up with a kink in your neck.

The ideal application of chiropractic is to prevent these kinds of pain emergencies by taking care of your spine as it needs it on a somewhat periodic basis.  If we waited to brush our teeth until they were falling out of our heads or until our mouths hurt, we’d have precious few teeth left to even worry about. 

By the time we achieve a measure of symptomatic relief and spinal stability following an initial period of care, my hope is that I’ve helped you to listen to the more subtle clues that your body gives when it is becoming subluxated.  For example, many people find that they start having restless nights and difficulty sleeping when they are out of adjustment.  Others find that they are more susceptible to colds or flu.  Some of my patients have noticed a tendency to get constipated when it’s time for an adjustment.  For me, the clue my body gives is a clicking sound and mild twinges of discomfort in my knees.  If I wait much longer after noticing my “warning sign” to get an adjustment, I’m bound to have some trouble.

For some people, identifying these subtle cues is not easy.  Especially those people who have learned to live with a certain amount of pain almost every day.  These folks are happy to come in for a check up on a monthly basis whether they hurt or not, just to avoid a severe relapse of their condition.  They understand that maintenance and prevention make a lot more sense than waiting until they can’t walk or sit before they take care of themselves.

There are many other indicators that can help you to determine when it’s time to get adjusted and whether or not you’re actually doing fine.  Some of these are easy to demonstrate as I prepare to adjust your spine at your next visit.  Feel free to ask me what criteria I use to decide when, where, and if I should adjust the next time you’re in the office.