Chiropractor of Choice
As many of you know, the primary reason I started learning and practicing Yoga was because I heard it helped relieve back pain. At the time I started, I was visiting the chiropractor weekly — I had a standing appointment every Friday afternoon.
Without these visit I would barely be able to walk w/o pain, and certainly sitting in front of a computer all day was challenging, to say the least. And by Wednesday, I’d be taking a Tylenol at the beginning of my work day, another at lunch, and one before bed so I could sleep w/o too much pain.
My chiropractor never said I should come every week, but we both knew I would.
Of course, you know the story, and now I’m free from constant back pain, not that I don’t occasionally get a twinge — just like everyone — but I can usually work it out with Yoga, and if not, I still have my chiropractor.
Ten years ago, when I found a local chiropractor, after he adjusted me he showed me a exercise (from Yoga, but he didn’t know that) I could do to help strengthen the muscles so my back would stay adjusted. I told him, jokingly, ”you know you could put yourself out of business if you show these types of exercises to people.” And he said, “well, I want you to get better, and I figure I’ll get referrals from you when you do.”
That’s MY kind of chiropractor.
These days some chiropractors will try to get you to sign up for the “family plan” of regular visit for a monthly set fee. Or you are re-schedule for appointment after appointment.
But also these days, more and more chiropractors will recommend Yoga or Tai Chi or even have a physical therapist on staff. They know that spinal adjustments aren’t enough — the muscles have to change — either to be more flexible if they are too tight, or more toned if they are too loose.
In my opinion, if the chiropractor doesn’t recommend something to strengthen/stretch the back muscle, he/she doesn’t really want your back to get well. He/she just wants you to keep coming for adjustment after adjustment.