When I was 19 years old, my biggest goal was to break a world record in powerlifting (Squat). I was working out every day and getting closer and closer to breaking the current record in my best event. With the way things were going during my training, I was nearly ready to attempt to achieve my goal and squat 600 plus lbs.
While lifting in the gym (Speedy’s Fitness Center) one day about a month before my next competition, I was ready to attempt a 600 lb. squat in preparation for my meet. Unfortunately, this large of an amount was just a little too much for me to hold, and the weight came crashing down on me, leaving me unable to walk or move. The staff working at the gym wanted to rush me to the emergency room, but I told them no, I had a better option. I told them I needed to go to my chiropractor.
My father and brother came to pick me up from the gym, and quickly drove me to our family chiropractor, Dr. Weaver. He decided that I needed to stay with him in the office and be adjusted 3 times that day. I first arrived at the office at 7:30 that morning and didn’t leave until 6:00 that evening. This regimen continued for 4 more days, and after that short amount of time, I was able to stand up and walk again. This experience changed my life forever, giving me the motivation and encouragement to continue forward in my own education to become a chiropractor.
Over 34 years after this accident, I still experience back pain from time to time, even though I am regularly adjusted 2 times a month. Some people might be skeptical of this and think, “why would a chiropractor (of all people) still have back pain if chiropractic adjustments are meant to relieve that problem.” The answer is simple, chiropractic care isn’t just about relieving back pain, it’s also about the overall health and optimizing function of your entire nervous system.
Although it is possible to significantly reduce pain and improve function after an accident or injury, it is important to understand that permanent spinal damage can never fully be reversed. It Is true that adjustments can vastly improve a patient’s symptoms, but they cannot turn back the clock to before the injury occurred. This does not mean that adjustments are not still incredibly beneficial!
A chiropractic adjustments primary purpose is to help improve the strength, movement and function of the spine and nervous system. They will not only decrease pain after an accident or injury, they will also help prevent future damage to the spine and allow it to return to a healthy state.
It is inevitable that over time, people will slip, fall, break bones, and injure themselves in a variety of ways. Nothing can prevent these things from happening all together, but that’s why we have chiropractors! They are here not only to help treat their patients after an accident, but to help keep their bodies strong for when these things do happen.