Knowing how often you should visit your chiropractor is essential for maintaining the health of your neck, back, and more. “How many chiropractic sessions do I need?” is one of the most common questions we get from first-time patients. As people spend more time working with computers and less time on exercise and stretches, more and more people are seeking chiropractic treatment.
If you’ve been asking questions like “Can you go to the chiropractor too much?” or “How often should I get a chiropractic adjustment?”, unfortunately, there’s no clear-cut answer that applies to everyone.
Your recommended frequency of chiropractic visits depends on the severity of your condition and your mode of treatment. Call our medical team today for a consultation, and our experienced chiropractor, Dr. Doug Loehrer, will tell you how often you should get adjusted for optimal results.
Factors That Determine How Often You Should Visit the Chiropractor
Recent studies from the Georgetown Health Policy Institute reveal that around 65 million people in America experience nonspecific back pain now and then. About 16 million adults put up with chronic back pain daily without addressing the root of the problem. Back pain can severely affect professional and academic performance, becoming one of the leading causes of lost workdays.
If you’ve been thinking about getting weekly chiropractic adjustments, you’re already on your way to eliminating back, shoulder, and neck pain for good. Call us today, and we will ensure you get speedy treatment with no physical discomfort.
If you’re wondering, “How often should you go to the chiropractor?”, here are a few factors that will affect the frequency of your visits.
You May Find Helpful: Guide on How To Prepare Before Chiropractor
Your Treatment Program
Most chiropractors have seven treatment programs that they recommend to the bulk of their patients. Our chiropractor at Sunrise Chiropractic, Dr. Doug Loehrer, has over 20 years of professional experience using a combination of these treatments to eliminate symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, relieve pain from allergies and osteoarthritis, and help patients recover from athletic injuries and car accidents.
Diversified Technique
Chiropractors employ the Diversified Technique to address three health issues:
- Joint dysfunction in various parts of the body
- Poor alignment of spinal discs
- Reduced mobility and movement of appendages
The Diversified Technique consists of precise and careful hand thrusts to various body parts, realigning bones, joints, and limbs. Studies reveal that around 70% of chiropractic patients receive the Diversified Technique treatment plan.
Wondering, “How many chiropractic sessions do I need with this technique?” It usually requires 12 visits to work, but every patient is different.
Spinal Manipulation
Spinal manipulation is a gentler version of the Diversified Technique. It focuses on reducing inflammation, undue pressure on joints and limbs, and enhancing nerve function. Chiropractors also refer to spinal manipulation as manual therapy or spinal mobilization.
According to The Spine Journal, spinal manipulation usually requires 12 sessions over a 6-week treatment plan to work optimally.
Spinal Decompression
Spinal decompression helps eliminate pain permanently for patients with herniated discs, sciatica, and worn spinal joints. A chiropractor will help you do gentle stretches to relieve negative pressure from your spinal discs, allowing oxygen, water, and nutrients to pass through and heal injuries. This treatment takes around 10 to 20 sessions.
The Gonstead Technique
The Gonstead Technique originates from 55 years of research and clinical practice experience by Dr. Clarence Gonstead. It involves an in-depth examination of the patient before application. The goal is to realign the spinal discs with the vertebrae, reducing nerve irritation and restoring utility to injured spinal joints.
The effects of the Gonstead Technique are instantaneous, but our clinicians will determine the frequency of your chiropractic visits according to the results of your preliminary checkup.
The Medical Devices Your Chiropractor Will Use
Thompson Drop-Table Technique
Chiropractors use an adjustable medical table with several segments and a precise weighing mechanism to apply the Thompson Drop-Table Technique, which people also call the Thompson Terminal Point Technique. They can raise one part of the table by a fraction of an inch and then drop them as they apply a hand thrust.
Your chiropractor may incorporate this technique for pain relief and improved joint function, reducing your total number of sessions.
Related: Chiropractic Table Adjustments
The Activator Method
The Activator Method utilizes a medical device called the Activator, which delivers controlled high-velocity, low-amplitude (HVLA) thrusts to massage and activate back and neck muscles without tensing them up. Many chiropractors incorporate the Activator into the Diversified Technique either as a diagnostic technique or treatment mechanism, which may reduce your number of visits.
Active Flexion-Distraction
The Active Flexion-Distraction procedure involves a Flexion table, which can flex horizontally and vertically to provide patients traction relief. Chiropractors use this technique to relieve leg and back pain for pregnant patients and ones with disc injuries from recent accidents. It generally does not affect your number of visits.
Why Do Chiropractors Require So Many Visits?
Many chiropractic treatments give patients immediate results, and some people don’t need to return after just one adjustment. However, different patients have different symptoms, and chiropractors often contend with numerous issues apart from physical discomfort:
- Reduced range of motion and flexibility
- Frequent migraines
- Muscle pain and atrophy
- Nonspecific tingling or piercing pains in various body parts
- Pinched nerves
Chronic back, neck, shoulder, and spinal discomfort are often the product of years of unergonomic work desks, poor posture, and incorrect exercise movements. Healing joints, bones, nerves, and limbs requires time and patience.
Periodic chiropractic adjustments are often part of a holistic treatment program that involves regular stretching, using ergonomic pillows when sleeping, and avoiding certain athletic activities.
How Often Should You Get Adjusted by a Chiropractor?
A recent Gallup poll reveals 33 million Americans have been in a chiropractic office in the past 12 months. Chiropractic treatment is the first choice of over 66 million people for back, shoulder, and neck pain relief. Periodic back adjustments are a part of life for many Californians, and it’s a good idea to visit your chiropractor before your body provides you with a painful reason.
If you’re an athlete, blue-collar employee, or work in front of a computer for more than nine hours a day, our professionals recommend that you see a chiropractor at least once a month for long-term maintenance.
When to Stop Chiropractic Treatment
Dr. Doug Loehrer has strong professional relationships with physical therapists, pain management specialists, and spine surgeons in Sacramento County. Our clinic co-manages patients with these experts to determine their optimal treatment duration.
We recommend that patients stop chiropractic treatment if they:
- Don’t experience an improvement within four weeks
- Encounter increased pain after an initial adjustment
- Have no remaining symptoms or discomfort
We may recommend maintenance adjustments to help select patients avoid recurring pain.
Call Us Today for a Consultation with an Expert Chiropractor
Sunrise Chiropractic is the number one source of safe and effective chiropractic adjustments and soft tissue therapy in Citrus Heights.
