Chiropractic care focuses on a patient’s spine, muscles, joints, and nervous system and uses various noninvasive treatment options to ease pain. Chiropractors treat their patients without surgery or medication and often collaborate with other health professionals to ease a patient’s pain.
At your first appointment, your chiropractic health professional will evaluate your condition. They will use their expertise and any other medical evidence they gather to diagnose the cause of a patient’s discomfort or pain. They will recommend the best treatment option.
Chiropractors use a variety of treatments, and patients can discuss their preferences. Your health professional may use a manual approach that manipulates body parts to realign your spine, and they may recommend ultrasound or cold laser therapy.
Chiropractic care is patient-centered treatment, so it might involve pain management advice. Chiropractors can suggest exercises or techniques that will help with pain relief.
Patients will benefit from chiropractic care in several ways. The most obvious is pain management, and patients may choose chiropractic visits over pain medication. Chronic pain sufferers often take opioids for pain management, and a chiropractor can create a treatment plan that might eliminate the need for pain medication.
Patients receiving chiropractic care will suffer less pain, have better posture, and often have increased mobility.
Visiting a chiropractor might alleviate neck or back pain, a common ailment. So the question becomes, how often should you see a chiropractor? The answer to this will depend on your symptoms and the treatment plan that your chiropractor recommends.
Factors That Affect How Often You Should Visit a Chiropractor
Several factors will affect how often you should visit your chiropractor. It is relatively common for a patient to see the chiropractor 2 or 3 times a week until there is a noticeable lessening of pain. Once there has been significant progress, patients can continue with weekly visits until all discomfort disappears.
Type of Injury
The type of injury and pain location will affect the frequency of visits. Certain conditions follow a general schedule of chiropractic care.
Lower back pain: 6-12 visits each month
Herniated disc: 2-4 visits within three weeks
Sciatica: 8-16 visits (Sciatica patients often visit their chiropractor three times a week for several weeks. Patients often see results after the first week of care.)
Whiplash: 4-16 sessions over two months
Frozen shoulder: 5-10 sessions over two months
Migraine headaches: 10-16 sessions over two months
The severity of Injury or Condition
The severity of the injury or condition and the extent of the pain will determine the best treatment schedule. The patient usually sees progress in as little as 4 to 8 visits over several weeks for minor issues.
More serious issues will require 8 to 36 visits over several weeks or months. Typically, when the patient finds pain relief, the frequency of visits will lessen.
Age and Health
A patient’s age and overall health will affect the frequency of their chiropractic visits. Younger patients in good health will need fewer visits to get back on their feet, and older patients might need a few more visits to reach their desired results.
Progress of Recovery and Healing
Patients will see their chiropractors more frequently as they begin treatment. It is common to have three visits each week. When the patient sees progress and experiencing less pain, the frequency of visits will drop. Your chiropractor may suggest weekly visits until all pain is gone.
Personal Preferences and Goals
Chiropractic care is patient-centered. Patients and chiropractors will discuss and negotiate the best treatment plan for their needs. The frequency of visits will largely depend on the ability of the patient to make these appointments. Patients must be able to work their chiropractic care into their busy schedules.
Recommendations For: How Often To Visit a Chiropractor?
How often should you visit a chiropractor? That depends on the reason for the visit. People who get little exercise may visit a chiropractor regularly to deal with minor aches and pains.
An athlete with a sports injury might only need a short-term intervention, and the chiropractor might recommend several visits in brief intervals. Once the chiropractor treats the injury, no further visits are necessary. However, some athletes find that regular chiropractic care improves sports performance.
Patients suffering pain from chronic conditions, such as headaches or fibromyalgia might consider an ongoing treatment plan. Chiropractic care can be a preventive measure to help ensure a healthy spine. Regular chiropractic adjustments help minimize stress on your body.
The chiropractor will recommend a treatment plan, which involves specific exercises to complement the chiropractic visits. Patients suffering from chronic back pain may visit their chiropractor weekly or monthly, and chiropractors will often recommend an exercise regimen to help with pain management.
Some patients will visit their chiropractor when they are experiencing pain. Others will visit their chiropractor regularly to prevent any further pain. Chiropractic treatment plans are as unique for each patient.
The chiropractor will recommend the best course of treatment, but you will make the final decision. Patients must consider changes they can make to their lifestyle, which can work with chiropractic care.
Most health insurance plans cover chiropractic care, so you should check to see if your plan protects you. If not, consider including the cost of your chiropractic care in your budget.
Conclusion
How often should you visit a chiropractor? You can decide on the frequency of your chiropractic visits with your chiropractor. They will determine the best schedule for your appointments. As you progress, the frequency of your visits may lessen. You can also discuss the type of treatment you prefer.
Your treatment plan aims to ease your pain in the best way possible. You may like one therapy over another, and you must let your chiropractor know.
When you see the benefits of your chiropractic care, you may continue with regular appointments to ensure that you feel your best. Visiting your chiropractor will ensure you have the best mobility and less pain. Your joints and muscles will always work as they should.
