As a Chiropractic Assistant (CA) at Results Align Chiropractic, we are the primary point of contact as we greet new and current clients coming in and out of the centre.
On average, we see hundreds of clients a week all with different stories, backgrounds and lifestyles. However, the one thing they have in common is that they want to better their health. The majority of the time, people pop into a chiropractic centre for the first time to relieve pain in the back or neck, but clients stay due to the wonderful benefits it has given them. Although clients may start feeling physical changes early on, they may not see the ongoing changes to the other aspects of their health until the physical symptoms subside. This is due to the vast majority of people not knowing how chiropractic care can really change not just their physical health but their overall health.
Dorland’s pocket medical dictionary of health defines health as “a state of optimum physical, mental and social well being and not necessarily the absence of disease or infirmities”. As clients come in, CAs create a special bond with clients, CAs know particular details such as what is going on in their lives to their thoughts and opinions on their care. This gives us an overall insight into changes in their lifestyle, personalities and the progress in their health.
Here are a few changes we see:
Clients Come in Happier & More Confident
Clients can come in multiple times a week. Therefore, we usually see the changes of state in their mood. Some people come into the centre with terrible chronic pain that affects them in their daily life. Who would be in a good mood if they were in pain all the time? The feeling of pain makes it challenging to fully experience the joy of living. We fully understand this when a client first walks in. However, the joy of happiness is exchanged between us when we see the changes of the emotional states of a client improving.
For example, a client came to us with terrible migraines and tension all around their neck due to stress. The first week, they were very quiet and not wanting to engage with us as they were in extreme pain. Then, the second week comes and the client and us exchange greetings. Over a few weeks, they come into the centre every time with a genuine smile, a greeting and lets us know about their daily lives and how they could finally “do things they’ve been wanting to do for ages.”
Multiple clients also become more confident over time. They start engaging in conversation with other clients waiting in the reception room and crack jokes with each other. This also comes from clients who were shy at first to now lighting up the room every time they walk in. Getting adjusted by your chiropractor can boost your body’s natural endorphins, moving you out of pain and better your emotional state.
Reduction of Stress
Stress is “the feeling of being overwhelmed or unable to cope with mental or emotional pressure”. Many adults experience this and brush it off like it is a normal part of daily life. However, it shouldn’t be “normal”. People who are more stressed are more likely to develop chronic health problems such as heart disease and deterioration in their mental health. Studies show that when a person is stressed, the body produces more of the hormone cortisol, therefore making the body go into survival mode. High levels of cortisol are linked to diabetes, heart disease, weight gain and difficulty with sleeping. Getting adjusted regularly can help the body reduce cortisol levels, and remove toxins from the body and help a person feel less stressed.
As a CA, we hear people tell us all the time that they love to come into the centre and relax, they come in a few minutes early and sip their herbal tea and chat away at us. Even little things like this can make a difference in people’s lives. A client once mentioned to us that their work has become so stressful that they’d like to book additional adjustments so that their nervous system is at the optimum level!
Better Posture
Do you remember when your parents told you to stand up straight or not to slouch? Well, they were talking sense. Your posture has a massive impact on your health – therefore chiropractors can help fix posture by correcting the root of the problem. When clients come in for their initial consultations, a lot tell us that they know that their posture needs improving and that their posture is bad but they don’t know why. This is due to many reasons such as stress, weight gain, tightness in muscles, low confidence, or even wearing high heels or heavy backpacks often. Chiropractors will most often use gentle adjustments to induce movement in joints that are stiff and immobile to release tension and pain. This will not only align your spine and neck but will also help stimulate your body’s natural healing process in helping you to gain good posture and overall comfort.
Over time, CAs notice a huge difference in clients’ posture – not only to how they are standing up straight but how they present themselves. Having good posture does not only improve your physical well-being but also improves your mental wellbeing. This is shown when clients come in and there is a difference in their mood (it is often elevated), their self-esteem has grown and they walk in more confident every time. This may be subtle to the individual who is walking in but to the front desk, these are huge differences that we witness on an everyday basis.