Have you ever been to the chiropractor before? Some patients regularly go, as often as three times a week, to address chronic pain and other severe issues. A select few also attend regular visits but to prevent issues from arising in the first place. Others go on an infrequent basis to tackle pain as it flares up. In any case, going to the chiropractor can be a therapeutic and life-changing experience.
Even if you have never been before, there’s no reason to rule out a chiropractor’s services, especially after you get to know them. Here, we will go over the benefits that a chiropractor can offer those who are suffering pain. We will also give some insight into one of the most common questions we receive: How often should you see a chiropractor?
What Are the Signs I Should See a Chiropractor?
Many common symptoms and reasons may warrant a visit to the chiropractor. Some that you should be aware of include:
- Back pain: This is one of the most common reasons to visit a chiropractor. This professional can assist with both lower and upper back pain caused by an abnormal curvature of the spine, ruptured disks, muscle spasms, and osteoporosis. A chiropractor will focus their efforts on adjusting the spinal joints to relieve a patient’s back pain.
- Headaches: Headaches can originate from many sources. One of its most common causes is muscle tension in the neck. Through spinal manipulation, a trained professional will relieve the pressure you are experiencing and lead to a reduction in the severity of your headaches.
- Sports injuries: Serious athletes put a severe amount of stress on their bodies. When an athlete runs, jumps, or reaches improperly, joint and muscle pain can occur immediately. Or, an athlete can experience long-term joint and muscle pain due to long-term misuse. A series of chiropractic adjustments will relieve tension in an athlete’s body and ensure that their bones are properly aligned. The overall goal is to make them less susceptible to injuries in the future.
- Work-related injuries: Repetitive tasks at work, like lifting and operating equipment, can cause back, neck, and joint pain. A chiropractor can help all kinds of workers, from grocery store clerks to construction workers, get the intensive treatment they need.
- Postural issues: A variety of forces can cause postural issues. For example, a sedentary lifestyle or lack of awareness of good posture are just a few factors that play into poor posture. It can also be caused by muscle weakness or poor core stability.
- Auto accidents: Auto accidents are jarring events that can severely affect victims’ muscles and joints. Chiropractors are trained to address a variety of issues related to auto accidents. Some of these issues include whiplash injuries, neck and back injuries, and damage to soft tissues. The muscle pain and stiffness that car crash victims experience is often so overwhelming that it limits their normal range of mobility. Chiropractors are equipped to address these traumatic injuries to help patients regain their full range of mobility. No matter if you’ve been involved in a low-speed or high-speed collision, a chiropractor can help you physically recover.
If you are enduring any of these symptoms or have experienced any of these events, you may benefit from an evaluation. This will help determine if chiropractic care will help you recover.
This list is certainly not exhaustive. If you have endured any kind of physical event that has caused discomfort in your joints, back, or neck, you may benefit from chiropractic services.
Related: What to Wear to a Chiropractor Clinic
Dispelling Myths
Some people think that chiropractic services are meant only to treat back pain. They may be hesitant to seek expert treatment for other issues because they are unfamiliar with all that chiropractors can do. However, these professionals can treat many issues that people of all ages endure. Here are some compelling statistics from The Good Body that show how prevalent chiropractic services are in the United States:
- There are over 70,000 active chiropractors in the country.
- Chiropractors treat over 27 million individuals every year.
- In one given day, there are around 1 million adjustments performed.
- One study showed that more patients noticed a 30% reduction in back pain after seeing a chiropractor than those who saw a doctor.
So, if you have doubts that chiropractic treatment is right for you, you should reevaluate your situation and get in touch with a professional today.
Treating Pain with Chiropractic Care
If you have a condition that needs professional attention, you may find yourself asking Well, how often should you get a chiropractic adjustment? This answer will vary widely depending on the individual, how much pain they are experiencing, and the circumstances that caused their pain.
You and your chiropractor will discuss a specific treatment plan that will be most beneficial to you, depending on your condition. Below, you can get a general idea of how many visits you can expect to attend:
- Prevention: You may not have obvious pain that prompts chiropractic visits. Athletes often like to go to prevent injuries and strengthen joints that have been overused. Some healthy patients with average lifestyles also like to go to loosen tension and feel rejuvenated. In any case, you can seek chiropractic care to prevent serious issues in the future.
- Exacerbation of pain or minor injuries: Some patients suffer from intermittent pain rather than chronic pain. This kind of pain can arise at certain times of the year or after you perform specific activities. If you experience head or neck pain that flares up occasionally, a chiropractic adjustment can help ease your discomfort. When you are trying to remediate minor injuries, we recommend visiting a professional two to three times a week for several weeks. With this type of intensive care, you will likely be back to your normal self.
- Chronic conditions or severe injuries: Back pain that lasts for longer than three months, arthritis, and fibromyalgia are a few causes of chronic pain. Severe injuries due to auto accidents and other traumatic events can also lead to long-term pain and discomfort. If you are suffering from chronic pain or have sustained a serious injury, you will likely need long-term chiropractic care. This kind of care often lasts for several months and calls for multiple visits per week.
How Chiropractors Help
Chiropractors don’t have one treatment plan available for all patients. Rather, these trained professionals, like physicians, cater to individuals’ unique needs.
Typically, chiropractors offer their services to patients in three stages:
- Urgent Phase: This is the phase that occurs right after an injury or accident. It can also mark the point when a patient begins to exhibit symptoms caused by long-term issues. At this point, visits will need to be very frequent for the first few weeks. You might be asking yourself, Why do chiropractors require so many visits during this first stage? They need to properly evaluate your situation and determine an effective treatment plan that will benefit your long-term health.
- Rehabilitative Phase: This phase marks when you are recovering from an injury. Typically, you should see your chiropractor between two and four times a month during this stage.
- Maintenance Phase: Those who are attempting to manage a chronic problem fall into the maintenance phase. These individuals tend to have less frequent visits, as they see their chiropractors only when their pain surfaces.
No matter the phase you are in, a chiropractor’s ultimate goal is to restore your health and help you live an active lifestyle free of muscle and joint pain.
Dr. Doug Loehrer, Owner of Sunrise Chiropractic.
Sunrise Chiropractic is the #1 trusted chiropractic clinic in Citrus Heights and also serves the surrounding Sacramento area. Dr. Loehrer has been treating chiropractic patients for over 20 years. If you’re in the Sacramento area and need chiropractic care, please visit our home page for more details at https://www.sunrisechiropractic.net/ or call us at (916) 727-6400 to set up an appointment.
