How Often Should I See a Chiropractor?
By Dr. Tim Fargo, Chiropractor
This is a question that I have heard many times. The answer is that it all depends. How often you see a chiropractor depends on what your condition is, how severe it is, and what your goals are for the care you seek. If, for example, you are in the middle of an acute episode (let’s say it’s low back pain), then you may want to see a chiropractor every day until your pain diminishes and you can function more fully. There have been many occasions when I’ve even treated people more than once a day. The plain truth is that chiropractic care restores movement improves nerve flow, and reduces muscle spasms and inflammation. When you have disabling pain and want to get through it quickly, then sometimes multiple treatments per day will do the trick when nothing else can. I know that for some this might sound strange, but chiropractic adjustments delivered to exactly the right spot, in exactly the right way can make all the difference in the world.
When the most acute episode has subsided and the goal becomes restoration of function or alteration of structural/postural issues, then the frequency of care is most appropriate at 2 to 3 times a week. Think about a person who is training for a marathon or who wants to increase their fitness and is going to the gym to accomplish very specific goals. In those instances, the person knows that a certain amount of repetition (repetitive demand) is required to get the body to invest its scarce resources to make changes. If you are a dancer, a gymnast, or a soccer player, you rehearse or practice several times a week. Similarly, if you are a chiropractic patient who wants to restore function, change nerve patterns, reeducate muscles, and improve health, then you too will want to see a chiropractor several times a week. When people have a goal to restore function or change posture and they don’t do what’s needed frequently enough, then they simply don’t change. Once again, how often you see a chiropractor depends upon what your goals are.
Once a person has achieved whatever functional or structural goal they seek, then the objective is to maintain function and wellness. Chiropractors call this type of care “wellness” or “maintenance” care. Once again, the frequency of such care depends upon the general health of the individual and the severity of any problem that is chronic or degenerative. It is certainly not a universal truth, but I have found that the bulk of my patients over the past 41 years do best getting adjusted a couple of times a month. Most of us lead stressful lives, have diets that are less than ideal, spend too much time sitting, and do not move our bodies with enough regularity. If that is the case, then getting adjusted every couple of weeks is a great antidote to the loss of functionality that people experience. Of course, we encourage our patients to also move well, eat well, and think well.
Another critical question to answer on the subject of how often to see a chiropractor is what you want in your life and with your healthcare. If you choose to use chiropractic for pain relief, then our care will be frequent, but of short duration. Conversely, there are many patients who, having experienced health and functional improvements while under chiropractic care, choose to incorporate it as part of a healthy lifestyle, much as they would exercise or healthy eating. It is really all a matter of what you want to achieve and what kind of life you’d like to have. It is not that people cannot live without chiropractic care. Rather, it is a matter that they can live better with it.
Whether you are seeking treatment for an acute injury or want to experience better overall health throughout your life, the doctors at Chiropractic Health and Wellness in Edina, Minnesota, are here to help you. Schedule your appointment today.
