Are Regular Chiropractic Visits Necessary?

Chiropractic, like any other health care treatment, needs to be personalized to each individual’s needs.

Everybody is different. We all have different levels of fitness, problems, work demands, or stress degrees. And most importantly, we have different medical histories. That’s why there can never be a one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to how often chiropractic patients should go to the chiropractor to get a chiropractic adjustment.

Depending on your lifestyle, you might benefit from bi-weekly or monthly chiropractic treatment sessions. But, if you’re interested in chiropractic maintenance care: proper health, and wellness, there are specific guidelines we’ve seen that work best for our patients.

To help you get an idea about why it’s good to come in for regularly scheduled appointments and how often your visits should be, let’s start by looking at a few things.

Determining the Frequency of the Visits

So, how often should you get a chiropractic adjustment? It depends on the category of care a patient falls into, determining how often they should visit the chiropractor. Many patients schedule their first visit at an urgent stage, transitioning from the reparative to the preventative stage. As they graduate, the chiropractor will adjust the frequency of their visits accordingly.

Urgent stage

Most patients start their care at the ‘urgent’ stage. They have scheduled an appointment due to symptoms such as severe back or neck pain and may need multiple visits per week. Has your body experienced trauma? A brutal fall on slippery tiles? A car accident? A serious injury will require more intensive treatment to correct underlying issues and lower pain levels.

New patients will first be assessed by a chiropractor to determine an appropriate care schedule for their condition or injury during their initial consultation. New conditions or injuries will only need a short period of ‘corrective care,’ while moderate to severe injuries may need months of treatment. Patients move on from the urgent stage when they no longer show symptoms and begin ‘reparative’ care.

Reparative Stage

The reparative or maintenance stage addresses the root cause of a patient’s symptoms: sports injuries, a vehicle accident, or discomfort from sitting at a computer all day.

At this stage, regular appointments are still important to ensure the patient doesn't relapse into painful symptoms again.

Preventative Stage

After the chiropractor has addressed the root of a patient’s severe pain, they can shift to ‘preventative’ care. This stage of treatment involves supplementing the patient’s immune system and overall health. Chiropractors recommend that their patients maintain regular appointment schedules until they are fully healed.

Benefits of Regular Chiropractic Visits

Some object to the idea of ongoing chiropractic treatments because they have heard several falsehoods, such as “once you start, you can never stop” — the implication is that chiropractors are pushing for more appointments to maximize their profits.

But this is simply not true. Chiropractors are committed to maximizing the benefits of every patient’s experience and making sure that they reach a complete and sustainable recovery. Because chiropractic care is a non-invasive, gentle technique, it takes a sustained period of sessions to ‘complete’ treatment. Also, the fear of ‘getting hooked’ on chiropractic care, as funny as that sounds, should pale compared to developing tolerances and even addictions to serious substances. Most patients quickly come to value the irreplaceable relief that chiropractic adjustments offer.

Another objection regarding continued treatment is the cost. While the costs depend on the location, it is important to remember that chiropractic care is an investment in your health. Nowadays, chiropractic care is often included in health plans, but even when your insurance can’t be billed, we try to make maintenance visits very affordable and easy to schedule.

Signs You Should See a Chiropractor

Most people will suffer from various aches, pains, and conditions throughout their lifetime. While most will not need professional intervention, chronic or serious issues might require external assistance.

Chiropractors are experts in spinal adjustments and how it affects the functioning of the body as a whole. If you are experiencing any of the signs below, it might be time to book an appointment with a chiropractor.

Upper, Mid, or Low Back Pain

One of the most obvious signs that chiropractic care is needed is if you are suffering from chronic back pain. Several factors can contribute to spine pain, such as posture, how long you're on your feet every day, and the type of work that you do.

A chiropractor can provide pain relief without the need for invasive surgery or narcotics.

Neck Pain & Stiffness

If you experience pain in your neck or upper shoulders, it's one of the signs you need a chiropractor. Our bodies are naturally designed to be in an upright position most of the time, with the head, neck, and shoulders aligned.

Shoulder Pain

If you spend most of your day seated at a desk, working away at your computer, the chances of you developing poor posture are very high. Although it may not seem like it, poor posture is quite a big deal. It places unwarranted pressure on your shoulders, neck, and upper back. Your bones and discs tend to shift to accommodate this pressure, leading to a slipped disk or much bigger problems.

Numbness/Tingling

If you're experiencing numbness or tingling in your arms or legs, it could be due to a pinched nerve. A chiropractic adjustment can help to relieve the pressure on your nerves and improve circulation.

Chest Pain

The rib cage, back, shoulders, and neck are all part of the musculoskeletal system. When parts of this system, specifically the spine, are out of alignment, it can lead to muscle tightness and pain, including uncomfortable non-cardiac chest pain.

Chiropractic adjustments to remove spinal alignment issues can help alleviate this tightness and pain.

Extremity Pain (Arm & Leg)

One of the most common signs that you may need to seek help from a chiropractor is that you are experiencing any type of physical pain. Pain indicates that something is wrong, and while medications or other devices or aids can give some temporary relief, pain shouldn't be covered up without finding the cause.

Chiropractors may also be an additional resource to assess symptoms or conditions that conventional doctors do not have any answers for, except to be dependent on medication or surgery.

Hip Pain

Any joint in the body can be out of alignment, including the hip joint, and it can cause serious pain, discomfort, and limited range of motion. The chiropractor can help evaluate your hip joint and other joints around the hip to determine the cause of your discomfort or limited mobility.

Knee Pain

A chiropractor can help knee pain in several ways by effectively treating different causes. They can perform hip and knee adjustments, posture and gait analysis, and weight distribution analysis. They also perform several physical therapy modalities to help with pain, swelling, and even arthritis.

Ankle/Foot Pain

While ankle/foot pain is not always preventable, the good news is that chiropractic care can make it short-lived. Chiropractic treatment typically includes chiropractic adjustment, orthotic shoes, exercise, or another non-invasive option to reduce foot pain.

Headaches

Many types of headaches are associated with chronic neck stiffness and muscle tightness. Chiropractic adjustments offer effective, drug-free treatment options, including gentle neck manipulations.

How Often Should You Go to the Chiropractor?

Your chiropractic doctor can help with common issues like neck and back pain, but they can also help with lifestyle choices. Most chiropractors focus on preventive care and how you can make healthier choices and start better habits to achieve your health goals.

So how often should you go to the chiropractor? The answer to that is different for each patient, but you should make appointments as needed. Regular chiropractic adjustments provide the most benefit. Make your appointment today and find out what your chiropractor recommends for you.

Consult with your chiropractor at Palm Wellness Center if you’re unsure or to address any concerns.

Are you or someone you know experiencing pain and looking for a Tampa chiropractic adjustment doctor near you? Contact us to make an appointment.