Are you considering going to a chiropractor? Whether it’s been recommended by your doctor or you’ve heard of the benefits from someone you know, chiropractic treatment is a widely used option for a myriad of health issues from back pain to headaches. It is considered a holistic approach to pain, providing an alternative to pain medication. Chiropractic services address pain by getting to the source.
If you’ve never been to a chiropractor before it is normal to have a lot of questions, such as: how often should you go to the chiropractor? Here’s what you can expect in terms of frequency of chiropractic appointments.
After an Injury
If you’re starting chiropractic treatment due to an injury of some kind, such as whiplash from a car accident, your appointments will start out on a more frequent schedule and gradually become more spaced out as your body heals. Here’s an example of a schedule for chiropractic adjustments following a back or neck injury:
- In the First 2 Weeks: You can expect to receive chiropractic adjustments at least 3-4 times per week in the first two weeks following an injury. This can help to relieve the acute pain associated with whiplash or spinal inflammation.
- In the Next 8 Weeks: After the first two weeks, depending on your progress and pain level, your adjustments may be reduced to just 2-3 per week. A starting point of 10 weeks of treatment time is average, but your chiropractor may recommend a longer treatment period. Ongoing chiropractic treatment may be helpful in managing pain and keeping the spine in proper alignment.
This is just an estimate of what you may expect. Individual chiropractors make their recommendations for frequency of treatment based on your needs and their expertise. This schedule will not necessarily work for every patient.
Treating Chronic Pain
People seek chiropractic treatment for reasons other than injuries. If you are experiencing chronic back pain, neck pain, headaches, or joint pain, chiropractic care can help with pain relief and even restore range of motion and mobility. When you’re just getting started with chiropractic treatment, your chiropractor will recommend a schedule for adjustments that suits your needs and will provide you with the best results.
In the first week of your treatment you may need multiple adjustments a week. As you progress and your pain subsides you may only need adjustments once a week or even every other week.
Ongoing Chiropractic Treatment
Some patients will start chiropractic treatment and reach a point where they don’t feel that they need any further adjustments. Other patients may find that ongoing treatment is helpful for improving the quality of their overall health and wellness. The purpose of chiropractic adjustments is to realign the spine. Most people have some degree of misalignment, meaning their spine is not perfectly vertical. Of course there is supposed to be a natural curvature in the spine, but not toward the left or right side of the body.
Spinal misalignment can result in back pain as well as other joint pain. The spine is the core of the musculoskeletal system. If it is out of alignment, other joints in the body can be affected, including the hips, knees, ankles, shoulders, and neck. Regular ongoing chiropractic adjustments can help the whole body to move in proper alignment and prevent pain.
Myths About Chiropractic Treatment
One of the biggest myths about chiropractic treatment is that once you get started, you have to keep going for the rest of your life. This is simply not true. Many patients do end up continuing with regular chiropractic adjustments for the rest of their life by choice because of the benefits they experience. But others cease chiropractic treatment once they feel better. They may go back for treatment years later if another injury occurs or if their pain returns.
The Many Benefits of Chiropractic Treatment
There are many benefits of chiropractic treatment, which is why about half of all Americans have seen a chiropractor at least once in their life.
- Pain relief.
- Improved balance.
- Weight loss.
- Better sleep.
- Greater mobility and flexibility.
Kim Chiropractic & Rehab Provides Flexible Scheduling
How often should you see a chiropractor? According to Kim Chiropractic & Rehab, you should see a chiropractor as often as you need to. Appointment schedules are created on an individual basis for patients according to their needs. We provide flexible scheduling, including Saturday hours for your convenience.
We have convenient locations in Columbia, Centreville, and Rockville. Contact us today to schedule a consultation. We look forward to providing you with the chiropractic care you need on your schedule.
