Is Full Body Adjustment Worth It? 

physical therapist sitting with man with back pain discussing source of chronic pain

Do you suffer from chronic back, neck, or shoulder pain?

Are you considering a full body adjustment and wondering whether it’s worth your hard-earned dollars? Or questioning whether the treatment lives up to the hype?

The hustle and bustle of modern life can take a toll on even the most active of us, leaving our overworked bodies feeling tense, achy, and needing some well-deserved TLC.

Chiropractors tout full body adjustments as the ultimate solution to combat this discomfort, promising realignment, pain relief, and improved overall health. But is full body adjustment worth the investment?

Many people turn to physical therapy and chiropractic adjustment when looking for relief from pain or injury.

However, both approaches have benefits and drawbacks, making it essential to understand their differences.

For example, physical therapy can be highly effective at addressing musculoskeletal issues through targeted exercises and stretches, helping to improve strength, flexibility, and range of motion.

Alternatively, chiropractic adjustment uses spinal manipulation to treat misalignments that can cause pain, stiffness, and other issues.

While each approach may work better for specific conditions or patients, it’s essential to do your research to determine the best course of treatment for you.

In this blog post, we delve into the ins and outs of this practice, exploring the history, current trends, scientific evidence, and effectiveness of full body adjustment and how it compares to physical therapy while providing practical advice, insights, and actionable tips for you to achieve total body wellness. 

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The History of Full Body Adjustment 

woman with back pain sitting on bed in need of full body readjustment

Full body adjustment – or chiropractic adjustment, as it’s commonly known – has its roots in ancient history, with evidence pointing to the practice being used by the Chinese and Greeks as early as 2700 BCE.

However, modern chiropractic care traces its origins back to the late 19th century. Daniel David Palmer, the so-called “father of chiropractic,” pioneered the concept of manual spinal manipulation to alleviate pain, improve bodily function, and maintain overall health.

It’s clear that full body adjustments have gained in popularity in recent years as practitioners and devoted fans of the practice promote the treatment’s ability to address a wide range of physical issues.

A typical session of (chiropractic) full body adjustment involves a comprehensive assessment, followed by manual adjustment techniques to target specific areas of joint, muscle, or spinal disharmony, i.e., anything that is out of line.

Sometimes, chiropractors incorporate other modalities, such as massage and heat therapy, into their treatment sessions.

Other practitioners promote “holistic chiropractic care,” which may include traditional adjusting techniques with complementary therapies such as nutrition counseling and stress management.

These practitioners aim to address the root cause of patient discomfort beyond just structural imbalances. 

As more Americans engage in preventative healthcare, self-care, increased physical activity, and the growing “wellness industry,” we can expect the popularity of new-age treatments like full body adjustments to expand too. 

Full Body Adjustment: Important Information

neck pain in woman with blonde hair next to chiropractic chair

When it comes to the world of healthcare, many options are available to you. One such option is a chiropractic adjustment.

This alternative form of medicine focuses on the musculoskeletal system and, through various techniques, aims to restore proper alignment and function to the body.

Along with the relief of back and neck pain, chiropractic adjustments provide a range of benefits, including improved immune function, increased mobility, and better overall sleep quality.

While it may not be the right fit for everyone, those who rate the benefits of chiropractic adjustment swear by its effectiveness and encourage others to explore it as a potential avenue for healing.

When you have active issues that negatively impact your quality of life, we believe physical therapy is infinitely more effective than stand-alone chiropractic care (we’ll explain further).

But if you are considering a full body adjustment, here are a few tips to help you make an informed decision: 

  • 1. Find the right chiropractor: Look for a licensed, experienced professional specializing in treating the issues you’re looking for help with. Then, get a recommendation from a friend, look at online reviews, and preferably schedule an initial consultation to ensure they’re a good fit.
  • 2. Share your health history: At your initial consultation, make sure the practitioner has a detailed record of your medical history, previous injuries, and your current health status. This information will help them tailor the treatment to your unique needs and make sure there are no contraindications to you having a full body adjustment. 
  • 3. Commit to more than one session: Achieving long-term benefits from full body adjustments may require multiple sessions over several weeks. Arguably, as is often the case with adjustments, you will need to continue having regular treatments to sustain the results. They don’t last. So, be prepared to follow a treatment plan and remain consistent in your visits.
  • 4. Listen to your body: While you can expect some discomfort after an adjustment, trust your instincts and contact your chiropractor if you experience any unusual or prolonged pain following the treatment. 
  • 5. Combine treatments: For optimal results, consider integrating other wellness practices, such as physical therapy, yoga, Pilates, or massage therapy, into your routine, alongside chiropractic care to get the best results. 

What Is The Difference Between Physical Therapy And Chiropractic Full Body Adjustment?

A Male Physical Therapist Stretching a Female Patient neck

If you’re considering treatments like physical therapy or full body adjustments to treat your aches and pains, you’re probably wondering which treatment is more effective.

If so, it’s essential to understand the critical differences between these two forms of treatment to make an informed decision on which one may best suit your needs. 

Physical therapy may be the better option if you’re recovering from an injury or surgery and need to regain strength, mobility, and flexibility.

On the other hand, chiropractic adjustments can help with spinal alignment and joint mobility as a wellness practice to improve your posture and keep your spine healthy.

Physical therapy and chiropractic full-body adjustments can help treat musculoskeletal disorders and injuries. But physical therapy focuses on diagnosing and treating specific movement impairments and restoring functionality.

In contrast, chiropractic care centers around spinal adjustment to improve joint function. Both forms of treatment are non-invasive and much better options that surgery or prescription medication.

Additionally, they both strive to improve overall body function, reduce pain, and increase range of motion, which makes them valuable resources for total-body wellness.

Physical therapists and chiropractors in the US both undergo extensive training in anatomy and physiology and how the body works, but it’s the philosophy for rectifying issues that differs between the two therapies. 

How Physical Therapy Can Help You Overcome Pain and Improve Mobility

Woman having Chiropractic Back Adjustment. Osteopathy, Physiotherapy, Sport Injury Rehabilitation Concept

If you’re struggling with pain and mobility issues, physical therapy is vital because a full-body chiropractic adjustment alone is unlikely to fix the underlying problems. You may feel “lighter” and slightly more mobile after the treatment.

Still, in our experience, the results are short-lasting and don’t prevent the issue(s) from returning in the future. A full-body adjustment can be a helpful add-on to maximize your results from physical therapy. Still, we don’t recommend skipping physical therapy in favor of chiropractic if you want to resolve your issues fully.

So, whether you’re recovering from an injury, dealing with a chronic medical condition, or just seeking to improve your range of motion, physical therapy can help you achieve your goals. 

Using various techniques and exercises unique to physical therapy, we can help reduce your pain, increase your flexibility and strength, and promote healing inside the body.

In addition, we can help you understand your body better and how to care for it to improve your overall health and well-being, overcome challenges and achieve a better quality of life. 

How to Find The Right Professional For Maximum Results

Young physiotherapist doing lumbar spine mobilization

Finding the right physical therapist and/or chiropractor can make all the difference in achieving the maximum results. Choosing the right person is a critical first step in your healing journey.

But with so many options available, how can you be sure you’re making the right choice? Well, it’s important to do your research.

Ask for referrals and talk to your chosen practitioner before committing to treatment.

Look for someone with the right skills and experience but also consider whether they’re the type of person you get along with because you’ll be spending a lot of time together during your sessions. 

After considering the benefits of physical therapy and chiropractic care, it is important to understand which is best for your needs before going ahead.

While physical therapy can help with muscle weakness and range of motion, chiropractic adjustments can help your body instantly feel better.

Both treatments offer distinct advantages, so determining which is best for your situation should be based on a thorough assessment of your health requirements. Talking to a specialist can help tremendously as you make this decision.

Ultimately, by researching and understanding how each treatment method works, you’ll be able to determine what is most effective for getting rid of pain and improving your overall mobility.

We can offer you a free 30-minute consultation to do that and talk to one of your health experts about the problems you’re experiencing and how we can help. Book here. 

Andrew Vertson