Why Repetitive Adjustments?

Orthodontic braces are worn daily for years and periodically "adjusted" to gradually correct the alignment of the teeth.  To change the structural alignment of the spine requires repetition of corrective forces (chiropractic adjustments) applied consistently over time.

RETRAINING & REPOSITIONING OF MUSCLES, LIGAMENTS & BONES REQUIRES TIME

Chronic subluxations of the spine lead to abnormal muscle contraction and laxity, deformation of ligaments and the spinal bones themselves eventually.  The reason for the repetitive adjustments is because the spine and its supporting tissues (ligaments, tendons, muscles, discs) have become anchored in the abnormal position, often since childhood.  Due to the longevity of the spinal distortion, the spine will change back to normal at its own pace, which is not usually as fast as we'd like.  Researchers have found that within two weeks, subluxations left uncorrected begin to become permanent.

Because of these multiple tissue changes the corrective chiropractic adjustments make very small changes but added together over time will make the correction.  An adjustment given on Monday will create a small improvement in spinal alignment but due to the chronicity of hte subluxations by Wednesday the spine will drift back to its abnormal position.  Therfore, it must be adjusted again on Wednesday and then again on Friday.  As the adjustments start to add up and you do your home exercises consistently, the spine will gradually hold its corrected position and not slip back to its subluxated position.

TRY TO TOUCH YOUR TOES

This process can be likened to trying to touch your toes.  As you begin to stretch, you are very tight and can't reach the floor but after a few minutes, you get closer.  Now tomorrow try again and you'll see that you are very tight again; your ligaments have rebounded back to their contracted position.  However, with repetition and consistency, you'll touch the floor immediately without even warming up because you have retrained the ligaments.

DIETING, EXERCISING & PHYSICAL CONDITIONING ALSO REQUIRE REPETITION

Anytime you attempt to change the structure of the body, it requires time and repetition.  For example, if you are overweight and you go on a diet, you must follow that diet plan repeatedly day after day for a certain time period before you reach your desired weight.  Likewise, if you want to condition your body to run a marathon, you must train repetitiously to slowly and gradually condition your muscles, joints, bones, heart, lungs, etc. to accomplish your goal.

Without repetition and consistency, you can not effectively change the body structure.  Whether you are talking about aligning the spine with chiropractic care or losing weight with dieting...  Changing the structure of the body, be it aligning teeth, stretching muscles, building muscles, losing weight or aligning the spine, takes time, repetition and consistency.

Despite the unfortunate fact that changing the spine's alignment takes time, it should be encouraging to note that just as one can transform their body through diet and exercise consistently followed over time, one can also correct the spine's alignment with repetitious adjustments and spinal exercises over time.