Can I exercise on the day of my adjustment?

I think the general answer to this question is yes and most of the time I encourage some form of physical activity on the day of adjustment. Remember the chiropractic adjustment is designed to restore motion and good activity outside the clinic helps to keep this movement for longer.

It is important to note however, that this doesn’t apply to all cases. Certain people with acute injuries or instabilities may wish to consult with their chiropractor first before exercise.

Going back to what actually occurs when getting an adjustment, the joints are moved and the nervous system is working differently. Add to this the fact ligaments, tendons and muscles are anchored onto the joints and it does make sense that being adjusted will have an effect on performance.

This leads to another question, is it better to be adjusted before or after an adjustment?

This is normally down to individual preference. Being adjusted beforehand can help to maximise performance, if a joint is working at full range, more muscles are used and the body can work more optimally during exercise. The flipside of this is being adjusted after a workout; this can be the case to again restore motion and nervous system function as well as speed up recovery.

Check out these videos for Arnold Schwarzenegger and UFC Fighters getting adjusted around exercise.