Why Isn’t One Adjustment Enough?
A question I have been asked time and time again, thus I’ve had plenty of time to truly perfect my answer. The answer in itself is simple. Nothing natural comes instantly. Whether you have started taking a supplement, eating healthy, exercising, or meditating, nothing of this nature will fit into our instant gratification society and mindset. When introducing a new supplement into your regimen, one must allow several weeks for the benefits of said supplement to begin taking effect. If starting a new diet, the benefits of eating healthier take time to really show themselves. Some systems may begin to appreciate a cleaner diet relatively quickly, while others take increased time to adjust. When it comes to exercising, we all know how frustrating it can be to have to commit to a workout plan. One day in the gym may make us feel great for a solid 12 hours, however, that one-day does not a six-pack make. It takes diligence, motivation, and determination to achieve our health goals. In meditation, one rarely finds peace with one session. In fact, most practitioners spend years perfecting their meditative practices.
It makes sense then, doesn’t it, that one adjustment will not be able to “fix” a structural malalignment. Think of the spine as the foundation of the body. Much like the foundation of a house, it is often ignored and it’s importance underestimated. If the foundation of a house is bad, the house itself will likely have creaky floors, doors that won’t close, and cracks in the walls. The floors, doors, and walls can all be fixed, however if the foundation is ignored, all three items will likely self-destruct within a few years once again. Now if the bad foundation is repaired alongside the floors, doors, and walls, then your fixing will likely last decades. You see that silent partner, the foundation of the house, was actually the root of the other problems. The spine is similar to this in that when it is ignored, anything done to various secondary conditions will be a band-aid. Once the spine is addressed, the secondary conditions begin to go away and STAY away, rather than being a recurring issue. 
Very rarely does one incident lead to a structural shifting of the spine. More often than not, a shift will require repetitive micro-traumas in order to take place, perhaps aided by the large macro-trauma along the way. For instance, one fall off the bed will likely not cause the spine to shift, however, multiple falls off the bed will. One time pulling on a leash will not likely shift the spine, however, daily walks with a consistent pull on the leash will. There will be a “final straw” moment more than likely where your animal will start to show symptoms of an issue, but by the time that comes along the spine has been shifted for quite some time.
With that in mind, when you bring your animal to see an animal chiropractor for a limp, it would make sense that one adjustment will not “fix” anything at all. One adjustment is just the beginning. That first adjustment is like the icebreaker, it starts the process of healing and initiates a new normal in the body. After all, that is what animal chiropractic is attempting to do, to re-establish normal motion within the body. The reason it takes some time to do so is the same reason it takes some time to build muscle or lose weight, it is a natural process and the body does not work at hyperspeed. 
Firstly, the musculoskeletal system is a complex one. The muscles will often react to shifts in the spine through spasm, atrophy, and trigger points. These things all take time to heal and fix. Though the adjustment, improvement should be noted in the muscular system and a different muscle memory must begin to form. The body is amazing in that it will tend to return to what it knows, what is comfortable, thanks to muscle memory. In the case of a structural shift, this is not good! Thus a new muscle memory pattern begins to form.
Secondly, whatever may have caused the spine to shift in the first place will not necessarily be removed from that animal’s life. A dog that pulls constantly may have a pinched nerve in his lower neck that then causes a limp in the forelimb. It will take some time to more permanently relieve pressure on the nerves, nerve roots, and spinal cord at the base of the neck. Once that has been accomplished, however, that dog will probably continue to pull on his lead. The cause of the injury then, has not been removed, so the body will need to fight against returning to its initial pattern. 
Lastly, like us, our furry creatures are bound to get themselves into trouble. They like to run, jump, play, and LIVE. Being alive in itself is a recipe for disaster for some of these creatures. The phrase “curiousity killed the cat” is not too far off from the truth, for curiousity can most certainly contribute to a spinal shifting! Much like children, when animals are allowed to just be an animal, they will undoubtedly hurt themselves along the way, and that is okay. Protecting your fur baby from every hazard imaginable is just plain impossible. It will happen, they will get into some trouble, and when that happens there is almost always something that can be done to help. Just know that unlike that fast food joint down the street, chiropractic does not cater to instant gratification, simply because it cannot! The body has its limitations, and instant healing is one of those.
Know that with each visit your fur baby will improve, the body will accept a new normal, and a relatively permanent solution can be found. Each animal is unique in that no care plan is the same, there is no script that will say whether your pet will need four adjustments while another will require seven to get better. Age, breed, chronicity, and co-morbidities all play a part in determining what your pet needs. As an animal chiropractor, my goal is to make sure your fur baby achieves the highest level of health possible as quickly as possible. I will always be honest with my clients when it comes to their pets health.
Photo Credits:
Liebherr HS 843 via photopin (license)
Using what came to hand via photopin (license)
Chester Cathedral via photopin (license)
Beach Planking via photopin (license)
Pedometer report 2016/03/28 via photopin (license)
Supplements – lycopene, ubiquinol, cherry, omega-3 & multivitamin via photopin (license)
Bleeding Kitty via photopin (license)