Chiropractic treatment is a non-surgical, drug-free approach to pain relief and overall health. It utilizes spinal manipulation and supporting methods to correct misalignments in the spine. These misalignments, known as subluxations, put pressure on nerves that cause pain, inflammation, and other problems.
If you’re researching chiropractic care for pain relief, it’s common to speculate on how many sessions you need to feel better. And if you’re already under the supervision of a chiropractor, you may be seeing improvement and wonder if it’s necessary to continue.
Allow us to explain why further treatment might not just be advisable but necessary.
History of Chiropractic Care Frequency and How It Has Changed
Chiropractic care was founded over 100 years ago by Daniel David Palmer. He believed that spinal care was vital to overall health. He introduced the practice of spine realignment to correct various health conditions and pain.
Early chiropractic treatment was typically once a week for several months, as it takes time for the spine to heal and the treatment results to become evident.
Over time, chiropractic treatments have become more mainstream as a viable alternative to surgery and pain medications. It has also become more patient-centered, with treatment plans individualized for each person to meet their needs as opposed to a pre-determined frequency for all.
Today, chiropractors meticulously assess each patient’s condition, lifestyle, response to treatment, and other factors to plan treatment frequency. As a result, patients in 2023 typically visit their chiropractor for treatment once a month or every couple of months if a serious condition or severe injury isn’t the issue.
Understanding Chiropractic Treatment
Chiropractors believe that when the spine is misaligned, it causes problems in the body and interferes with its natural ability to heal. They use spinal manipulation to restore proper alignment and alleviate pain, mobility issues, and other ailments.
Explanation of Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care focuses on physical well-being as a non-surgical, holistic approach to healing. Chiropractors focus on the spine as the foundation of good health. When the spine is healthy and in proper alignment, it benefits the body as a whole.
How Chiropractors Treat Patients
The various treatments chiropractors use include massage, exercise, dietary recommendations, and other techniques in addition to spinal manipulation, although manually working the spine is the most widely known. During spinal adjustments, the chiropractor uses their hands to apply controlled force to areas of the spine that are misaligned. This restores the spine to its natural position.
Your physician can refer you to a local chiropractic care provider they know and trust. They can also advise on whether or not this treatment will be helpful to you. If it is, ask them for a professional referral so you can schedule a consultation.
Factors that Influence the Number of Chiropractic Sessions
The following factors will determine the number of sessions a chiropractor will recommend:
- Condition Severity
- Chronic or Ongoing Problems
- Patient Response
- Patient Expectations
- Clinical Judgment
Severity and Chronicity of the Condition
Let’s say you suffered an injury and now have acute back pain. If you’ve never experienced back pain before, your problem could be resolved in a month’s worth of sessions. But if you are someone with chronic back pain that has lasted several years, you will probably need more treatments over an extended period of time.
Age and Overall Health of the Patient
Age is a significant factor in determining your treatment plan. An older patient or a patient with other health conditions will most likely need more sessions than a younger, healthier patient.
The Patient’s Response to Treatment
How your body responds will be a key factor in planning your treatment journey. While some patients respond quickly, others take longer to see improvement and will need more sessions.
The Patient’s Goals and Expectations
What you want out of your treatment will also affect the number of chiropractic sessions you need. Some patients may only need a few sessions to relieve pain, while others may want to continue treatment to improve their overall health.
Most Common Issues Why People Seek Chiropractic Care
Here are the most common reasons people seek chiropractic care:
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Headaches
- Sciatica
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Migraines
- Insomnia
- Digestive problems
- Anxiety
- Depression
Average Treatment Frequency for Each Issue
As previously mentioned, the treatment frequency for any patient will depend on the severity and the patient’s physical response. Below is a general overview of common conditions and their average treatment schedules:
- Back Pain: 12-24 sessions
- Neck Pain: 12-24 sessions
- Headaches/Migraines: 12-24 sessions
- Sciatica: 12-24 sessions
- Carpal Tunnel: 6-12 sessions
- Fibromyalgia: 12-24 sessions
- Insomnia: 6-12 sessions
- Digestive Issues: 6-12 sessions
- Anxiety: 6-12 sessions
- Depression: 6-12 sessions
These are just general guidelines. The actual number of sessions a patient needs will vary.
The Chiropractor’s Clinical Judgment
As with other healthcare providers, the chiropractor’s treatment determination is based on patient needs. Together with your chiropractor, you can discuss whether the current treatment is effective or whether changes should be made.
How Many Chiropractic Sessions Do I Need?
Most patients require 12 to 24 sessions to see significant improvement. However, this varies from patient to patient, depending on the condition being treated.
Examples of Typical Treatment Plans for Different Conditions
As a general guide, you can refer to the list below to see what typical treatments are given for specific conditions:
- Back Pain: 12-24 sessions of spinal manipulation, massage, and exercise.
- Neck Pain: 12-24 sessions of spinal manipulation, massage, and exercise.
- Headaches: 12-24 sessions of spinal manipulation, massage, and exercise.
- Sciatica: 12-24 sessions of spinal manipulation, massage, and exercise.
In addition to spinal manipulation, chiropractors use supporting treatments to help patients recover from injuries, alleviate pain, and improve mobility. These treatments often include:
- Exercise: Exercise can be an integral part of any treatment plan. It helps to improve the range of motion, strength, and flexibility. It can also help to reduce pain and inflammation. Chiropractors provide patients with exercises tailored to their specific needs.
- Massage Therapy: Massage helps to relax muscles, reduce pain, and improve circulation. It can also improve the range of motion and flexibility. Chiropractors often recommend massage therapy to combat chronic pain, muscle spasms, or tension headaches.
- Cold Therapy: Cold therapy helps to reduce pain, inflammation, and swelling. It also numbs the area and makes symptoms more tolerable. Chiropractors recommend cold therapy for acute pain, muscle strain, or sprain.
- Heat Therapy: Heat therapy is a pleasant way to relax muscles, ease pain, and improve circulation. It is very effective for increasing the range of motion and flexibility. Chiropractors often recommend heat therapy for chronic pain, arthritis, or fibromyalgia.
- Ultrasound Therapy: Ultrasound therapy uses sound waves to heat up the tissues in the body. This reduces pain, inflammation, and swelling. It also improves the range of motion and flexibility. Chiropractors may recommend ultrasound therapy for chronic pain, arthritis, or fibromyalgia.
- Electrical Stimulation Therapy: Electrical stimulation therapy uses low-level electrical currents to stimulate the muscles and nerves. This helps to reduce pain, strengthen muscles and improve circulation. Chiropractors may recommend electrical stimulation for chronic pain, arthritis, or fibromyalgia.
- Traction Therapy: Traction therapy uses a machine to gently pull the spine. This reduces pain, inflammation, and muscle spasms. It can also improve the range of motion and flexibility. Chiropractors recommend this therapy for chronic pain, sciatica, or herniated discs.
- Acupuncture: Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine treatment that involves inserting thin needles into the skin at very specific points. Acupuncture is thought to help to improve the flow of energy through the body, which can reduce pain, improve function, and promote healing. Chiropractors recommend acupuncture to patients for many forms of chronic pain.
How often, if at all, your chiropractor introduces these supporting treatments depends on your response to previous treatments and your overall goals. These therapies may be a boon to some patients while remaining ineffective for others. Be sure to discuss with your chiropractor how these treatments may be improving your condition or not having the desired effect.
How to Monitor Progress and Adjust the Treatment Plan
It is crucial to monitor progress and adjust the treatment plan as needed. If a patient is not seeing improvement after several sessions, the chiropractor may need to change the treatment plan, add supporting treatments, or recommend physical therapy.
Summary
Chiropractic care is a safe alternative to surgery and pain medications for treating chronic pain, accident injuries, sports injuries, limited mobility, or other ailments. The number of treatments needed depends on how serious or painful your condition is and how your body responds.
If your recovery can be improved by adding supporting treatments, your chiropractor may work them into your treatment plan to speed healing. However, before starting chiropractic treatment, you should consult with one or more chiropractic care professionals near you.
Learn More About Professional Chiropractic Care at Injury 2 Wellness
As you can see, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of how often you should go to the chiropractor. The frequency of treatment will vary depending on the severity of your condition, your response to treatment, and your overall health.
Injury 2 Wellness is a professional chiropractic clinic specializing in treating chronic pain, mobility, and injury recovery. We offer traditional and modern treatments, including spinal manipulation, massage therapy, exercise, and other supportive therapies.
Our caring approach is based on your recovery and future quality of life. We are dedicated to improving your health as we alleviate pain and stiffness in the body. When the spine is in natural alignment, it will improve more than just the affected body areas. It will also give you more energy, concentration, and contentment.
If you are looking for a chiropractor to help you improve your quality of life, contact Injury 2 Wellness today. We would be happy to answer any questions you have and develop a treatment plan that is right for you.
“How Often Should I Go to the Chiropractor?” – Here’s Our View
Frequency in treatment is very subjective and changes from patient to patient. However, most patients will require 12 to 24 sessions to see significant improvement.
- Chronic pain requires regular treatment to get under control. The recommended treatment frequency for pain is once a month or every couple of months.
- Acute injuries like muscle strain or sprain require greater frequency of treatment. The recommended plan is once a week or once every two weeks.
The team at Injury 2 Wellness stresses the importance of listening to your body and consulting with your chiropractor about treatment plan adjustments as needed. If you are not improving after a few sessions, talk to your chiropractor about revisiting your treatment plan.
Overall, chiropractic care is a safe and effective way to relieve pain and improve physical health. The frequency of chiropractic care will vary depending on your body’s response and your stated goals.
Contact Us
Are you searching for a dedicated, compassionate chiropractor in your area? If you responded yes, Injury 2 Wellness is a great option. Injury 2 Wellness is a team of experienced and qualified chiropractors whose mission is to help patients live pain-free lives. We offer various licensed chiropractic services, including spinal realignment, massage therapy, exercise, and more. We also provide supporting treatments to speed recovery and enhance the quality of life.
Injury 2 Wellness is committed to the highest quality of care. They offer flexible appointment times and accept most major insurance plans. At our initial free consultation, we will assess your condition, medical history, and other influential factors to recommend an individualized treatment plan that works for you. We can also explain in-depth how our treatments can help.
You see, we know that chiropractic care may be new to you. We also understand that you may not be sure if it can help. But let us just say thousands of thrilled patients in our care can reassure you! Chiropractic care is often precisely what your body needs to begin healing.
If you are looking for a chiropractor to help you relieve pain and improve your overall health, Injury 2 Wellness is here for you! Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.