From arthritis to whiplash injuries, chiropractors can address various health issues through manipulations and chiropractic adjustments. If you’re new to chiropractic treatments, you might wonder what to expect during a typical appointment. So, how long are chiropractor appointments?
On average, visits last around 30 minutes, but the length of your treatment depends on several factors. Let’s discuss those now.
How Long Are Most Chiropractic Appointments?
How long does a chiropractic appointment last? The duration can vary depending on your condition. You should also expect your first appointment to last longer since your chiropractor must gather enough information to create a personalized treatment plan.
You’ll usually start by filling out a questionnaire with your health history or sitting down with a nurse who will ask you some questions. Some chiropractic practices ask you to come 15 minutes early to collect your contact information, insurance details, and medical history.
Next, the chiropractor will perform an initial exam to determine the extent of your injuries or look for the root cause of your chronic pain. This exam typically includes palpations, but your chiropractor can request some X-rays and other tests. If you’re receiving chiropractic treatment as a referral from your generalist, the exam might be shorter since your chiropractor will already have information about your diagnosis.
Once your chiropractor knows more about your symptoms, they will create a personalized treatment plan. They will review the chiropractic adjustments they can perform, discuss how long the treatment will last and recommend additional steps you can take at home to manage your symptoms.
Then, your chiropractor will begin the treatment with some adjustments or manipulations. The entire chiropractic visit can last 45 minutes to an hour. Each chiropractic adjustment lasts only a few seconds.
During subsequent appointments, you’ll likely take a few minutes to discuss your symptoms progressing before your chiropractor performs your chiropractic adjustments.
This process can last 15 to 30 minutes.
How long does a chiropractic adjustment for chronic pain last? Suppose you’re receiving long-term chiropractic therapy for chronic pain. In that case, your appointments might last five to ten minutes so your chiropractor can perform a quick spinal manipulation to restore proper alignment and provide pain relief.
How Long Does an Adjustment Take at a Chiropractor?
What happens during a chiropractic adjustment? The chiropractor applies a controlled force to a joint to stretch it along with the muscle tissues that support it.
Researchers believe chiropractic care has several potential benefits:
- A chiropractic adjustment could reset the sensory feedback that nerves surrounding the joint send to the brain, resulting in better joint control.
- Stretching the joint could help restore proper synovial fluid adhesion, allowing joints to move without friction.
- Proper adhesion from the synovial fluid can support bone and cartilage health.
How long does a chiropractic adjustment last? A chiropractic adjustment only takes a few seconds. However, chiropractors may wait a few minutes between each manipulation to give your body time to adjust, especially if you’re new to this form of physical therapy.
How long does a chiropractic adjustment last? Your body will typically hold the adjustment for a few days or weeks. Depending on your condition, your symptoms might return after a few days.
How Long Does Chiropractic Treatment Last?
How long does a chiropractic treatment last? The duration of your treatment depends on your symptoms and your overall health. If you’re seeking treatment for an injury, the severity of the injury will affect your treatment plan.
It’s easier for your body to hold the chiropractic adjustments if you have healthy muscle tissues. It means you’ll be able to go longer between appointments and reduce the overall duration of your treatment.
If you’re suffering from a chronic condition affecting your joints and muscle tissues, you’ll likely need frequent chiropractic adjustments, and the entire treatment might last longer.
Here are a few examples of how long different chiropractic treatments last:
- Most patients see results after two and four weeks of spinal adjustments for back pain.
- If you have arthritis, four to ten treatments should ease your symptoms.
- Chiropractic treatments are emerging as an effective way of treating chronic migraines. It’s common to get ten to 16 treatments for this condition.
- It typically takes eight weeks of treatments to heal a ligament or tendon injury.
- Whiplash treatment can last anywhere from two to six months, depending on the injury’s severity.
How frequent are chiropractic appointments? If you have an injury or experience severe pain, your chiropractor will likely recommend scheduling treatments two or even three times a week at first.
For other conditions like arthritis or back pain, a weekly chiropractic session is the norm. As your condition improves, you can wait longer between treatments. If you don’t experience pain, you can schedule appointments once or twice a month.
Your treatment plan might end after a few weeks or months, but there are cases where chiropractic patients need to seek chiropractic care again if a chronic condition returns.
How Soon Can You Feel Relief After Starting Chiropractic Care?
Most patients report feeling a difference after their first appointment, sometimes within minutes of receiving a chiropractic adjustment. You can expect a reduction in pain and an improved mobility range.
It’s also possible to experience mild pain and discomfort after a chiropractic appointment. Some patients feel sore for 24 hours, but you should start feeling better after a day or so.
Providing Chiropractic Care To Ventura County
If you are a resident in or near Ventura County looking for a local chiropractor, we would love to see you. We serve patients from our surrounding communities in our Ventura chiropractic office and Oxnard chiropractic office.
Call our friendly staff to schedule your first visit.
FAQs
Read on to learn more about chiropractic visits.
Why are chiropractic visits so short?
Chiropractic sessions are brief compared to other healthcare treatments because a chiropractor only needs a few seconds to perform an alignment or manipulation. Even if your chiropractor adjusts multiple joints, the entire process won’t take over 30 minutes.
How long does a first chiropractic adjustment last?
Your first appointment will last longer since your chiropractor needs to learn more about your health history and create a personalized treatment plan. This first appointment could last up to an hour.
What should I wear to a chiropractic appointment?
Wear loose and comfortable clothing. You can keep your clothes on during adjustments, but wearing a loose-fitting top with joggers or leggings is best. This way, your chiropractor can manipulate your joints without your clothes getting in the way.
