The first answer that comes to mind for most is, “when I am in pain.” For others, it may be “after a slip or fall,” and for some, it is “once a week.” But what is the right answer?
This question often gets asked when someone observes me adjusting a newborn baby, thinking, they don’t have back pain, or surely it’s too early to be adjusted? But the truth is, the best time to get adjusted is NOW. Whether you are a newborn baby, a fit-as-a-fiddle 30-year-old, or an octogenarian, the time to get your spine checked and adjusted is always now.
What do I mean by this? I mean that we never know the right time to get adjusted unless we have our spine checked by a chiropractor on a regular basis. For me, that’s twice a week. Now, that might seem like a lot, especially since I have no ongoing back issues or pain. But I understand the importance of maintaining a healthy, well-adjusted spine, which is why I choose to be checked regularly. For many of our patients, when time and financial considerations are taken into account, they often opt to have their spine checked once a fortnight after the initial corrective care process.
That was a long buildup but an important one, and you may now be thinking, why on earth would you check the spine so often?
It all comes down to the relationship between spinal motion and the brain. The brain functions optimally when it receives proper information and input from a moving spine. When your spine is moving well, it sends positive, reassuring signals to the brain, particularly to the hypothalamus. This promotes proper brain function (to control the whole body) and balanced hormone function (to regulate the health of the body).
When the spine becomes stiff and isn’t moving properly, it sends aberrant signals to the brain and hypothalamus. The body no longer perceives itself as being in a safe state, triggering a cascade of stress responses. This leads to impaired brain function and changes in hormone levels, designed to keep us safe in dangerous situations. On a neurological and hormonal level, your body acts as if it’s running from a lion. Blood pressure rises, cortisol levels increase—all of which would be beneficial if you were running from a lion. However, since you’re not, these responses begin to affect your long-term health and lead to sickness.
So, you can see that if my spine isn’t moving well, my body starts heading down a path toward sickness. But if my spine is adjusted and moving properly, I stay in a state of balance and health.
My question to you is: when do you think you should next get checked and adjusted? Should your family be checked too?
With love,
Tom