10 Things Chiropractors Wish Patients Would Stop Doing (And What To Do Instead)

Dr. Joe Sheppard from Sheppard chiropractic with Dr. Joe's Power On BODcast episode number 41, discusses what many things that chiropractors want their patients to stop doing more importantly what to do instead. If you ever sat in the waiting room thinking, Am I doing everything I should be to actually get better?, then this is for you.

Chiropractic care isn't just something that happens on the table. It's a combination of what you do in the office and what you do in other 23+ hours of the day. When those two things work together, results come faster, last longer and feel more consistent.

Now, I know you may be thinking posture? Really, that's what you're diving into today? But stick with me, because this doesn't is about sitting straight like your mom told you when you were a kid. This is about how your body functions, how the nervous system communicates and how you feel day to day and even how you age overtime

Posture is one of the simplest things to overlook... and one of those powerful things to fix.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

In the time it takes you to get home, work, or play, Dr. Joe's podcast will inform and educate you on chiropractic, nutrition, and fitness, keeping you and your family up to date on current products, health tips, and optimized living with chiropractic care. And here's your host, Dr. Joe Shepherd.

SPEAKER_01 0:26

My name is Dr. Joe Shepherd from Shepherd Chiropractic. Today on Dr. Joe's Power On Podcast, episode number 41, we're talking about 10 things chiropractors wish patients would stop doing, and more importantly, what to do instead. If you've ever sat in a waiting room thinking, am I doing something I should be doing actually to get better? Then this is for you. Chiropractic care isn't just something that happens on the table. It's a combination of what we do in the office and what we do the other 20 plus hours of the day. When those two things work together, results come faster, last longer, and feel more consistent. Now, I know what you're thinking. Posture, really? That's what you're going to dive into today? But stick with me, because this isn't just about sitting up straight like your mom told you when you were a kid. This is about how your body functions, how your nervous system communicates, and how you feel day to day, and even how you age over time. Posture isn't one of the s is one of the most simplest things to overlook and one of the most powerful things to fix. So let's take a deep breath, maybe roll those shoulders back and let's get aligned together. Number one, waiting until the pain is unbearable. Pain is a signal, but it's not the first sign that something is wrong. It's often the last. By the time you feel that sharp or persistent pain, your body has already been compensating. Muscles tighten, joints become restricted, and movement patterns change to protect the area. That's why I just woke up like this is rarely the full story. What to do instead? You know, pay attention to those early warning signs, stiffness in the morning, reduced range of motion, frequent headaches, tight shoulders and hips. Addressing these early can prevent bigger issues and often requires less intensive care. Okay, skipping appointments. Healing isn't random, it's progressive. Each chiropractic adjustment builds on the last. When you skip visits, your body can regress back towards the old patterns, especially in the early phases of care. Think of it like orthodontics. Braces don't work if you tighten them once and then you stop. What to do instead? Stick to your recommended schedule, especially in the beginning. As your body stabilizes, visits often space out naturally. Consistency now, fewer problems later. Expecting a one adjusted miracle. We all love quick results, but the body always doesn't work that way. Longstanding issues involve muscle memory, ligament adaptation, nervous system patterns, and posture habits. One adjustment can create change, but repetition is what makes that change stick. You know what to do instead? Shift your mindset from relief to restoration. Relief is the first step. Correction and stability come after. Ignoring your posture, number four. Posture isn't just about sitting up straight. It directly affects how your nervous system functions. Forward head posture alone can add significant stress to your cervical spine. And over time, that can contribute to neck pain, headaches, shoulder tension, even reduced energy levels. And in today's world of phones and computers, this is one of the biggest challenges patients face today. What to do instead? Build posture awareness into your day. Keep screens at eye level. Take breaks every three, you know, 30 to 60 minutes. Sit with flat feet on the floor and shoulders relaxed. You know, think of the ears over the shoulders alignment. Small corrections, repeated often, create lasting change. You know, skipping that at-home exercise program we talked about. Well, adjustments restore motion and allow the nervous system to work better, but muscles are what hold that motion in place. If weak or imbalanced muscles aren't addressed, the body often falls back into the same problems. This is why two patients with the same issue can have very different outcomes. One follows through at home and the other one doesn't. You know what to do instead? Be consistent with your exercises and your stretching. Even if it seems very simple, most are designed to improve stability, reinforce proper movement, reduce strain on the joints. It's not about doing more, it's about doing the right things consistently. Number six, saying I'm fine when I'm not. Chiropractic care is highly individualized. Small details actually matter. If something feels different, even slightly, that affirmation helps guide your care. And without it, you're missing part of the picture. What to do instead? You know, communicate openly. Is the pain changing or moving? Is it better at certain times of the day? Is something specifically aggravate? You know, these details help fine-tune your treatment and improve your overall outcome. Number seven, trusting Google over your chiropractor. Online information isn't inherently bad. It may lack some context. Search results don't know your history, your exam findings, x-rays, or how your body responds to care. That's how people end up either unnecessarily worried or misinformed. So what do you do instead? Use your visits as a conversation. Ask, why am I feeling this? What should I avoid? What can I do to speed this up? An informed patient is a empowered patient. But the information should be tailored to you specifically. Number eight, comparing your case to someone else's. We all compare each other to someone else, and you know, healing, but healing times vary between person and person, and that's actually very normal. Factors that influence recovery include age, activity level, occupation, injury history, consistency with your care. So when someone says, I felt better after one visit, that doesn't mean your experience should look the same as that. So what should you what should you do instead? You know, track your progress. Are you moving better? Do you sleep better? Is your digestion improving? How am I having fewer flare-ups? Those wins do matter, even if they are gradual. Going back to the bad habits, yeah, this is one of the fastest ways to slow your progress. If the same stress that caused the issue is still present, the body will keep reacting the same way. Common culprits include bad lifting mechanics, long sitting at work or home, sleeping with unsupported pillows on your neck and between your legs and behind your knees, repetitive movements without breaks. What should you do instead? Be intentional after your adjustments. Move with good form, stay active but not reckless. Set up your environment to support better posture. Think of it as protecting the work that you just invested in. Number 10, stopping care when the pain goes away. You know, pain is is only part of your story. By the time you feel relief, your body is improving, but it may not be fully stabilized. And stopping too early often leads to cycles of feeling better, stopping care, relapse, and repeat over again. What do you do instead? Follow through with your care plan, including any recommended maintenance or wellness visits, which I highly suggest. Long-term goals should include better function, improved mobility, which reduces the likelihood of future flare-ups, not just temporary relief. So, what are my closing thoughts? You know, at the end of the day, chiropractic care is more than just cracking backs. It's about helping your body and your nervous system function the way it was truly designed to be. The patients who see the best results aren't the ones who come in the most. They're the ones that participate in their own care. They show up, they stay consistent, they make small changes daily, and those small changes add up in a very, very big way. So, with that in mind, I look forward to speaking with you on our next visit. I appreciate you taking the time to listen to me on your busy home, school, or work schedule. And I've always said it's easier to build a child's future than repair an adult. Have a great week, and thanks for listening.

SPEAKER_00 11:24

Thanks for joining us on this episode of Dr. Joe's Podcast. Discover more insights on chiropractic, nutrition, and fitness on next week's episode and at Shepherdchiropractic.com.