How often should I be adjusted by my chiropractor?
In this article we will explore a common question about chiropractic care. How often should someone be adjusted by a chiropractor? Perhaps you are thinking of visiting a chiropractor for the first time or have been going for a while and wondering if you need to go more or less frequently. This article will help answer that question but before we do, it is important to understand a few things about chiropractic care and spinal adjustments.
What Is a Chiropractic Adjustment?
A chiropractic adjustment is a safe, non-invasive technique designed to restore proper function to the spine. It helps relieve pressure or irritation off of the spinal nerves, and is widely used to treat many conditions of the spine. It helps the spine and body to function better and helps alleviate pain and discomfort.
How Does a Spinal Adjustment Work? Chiropractors are trained to detect dysfunction, misalignment and other problems in your spine. Once they have determined the problem areas that need to be addressed, a spinal adjustment can be employed to help restore function and proper movement to these areas. They are trained to know how much force and in what direction it should be applied in order to restore function and alleviate pressure. If the chiropractor is using their hands to adjust the spine, a "pop" or "crack" can be felt and heard. This is completely normal and is simply the gases being released from the joint being worked on. It often feels good and is an indication that the joint has moved. If the chiropractor is using an adjusting instrument to perform the adjustment, no "cracks" or "pops" will be felt. However, the spinal movement will still be restored and the dysfunction corrected. Either method is a good approach, but the chiropractor should select which method they use based on their exam findings, patient size and preference of treatment style. How Do I Know If I Need To See A Chiropractor or a Physiotherapist? Sometimes people wonder whether they need a chiropractor or a physiotherapist for their pain or dysfunction. In order to answer this it is important to understand what the problem is and what techniques or treatments styles will help get you back on track towards your health goals. Sometimes a combination of both is necessary. But for the most part, if it is a problem related to your spine, you should see a chiropractor, and if it is a problem related to your extremities (leg, foot, wrist, etc) you should see a physiotherapist. However, physiotherapists can treat back and neck problems and chiropractors can treat problems in your extremities. If your goal is pain relief, physiotherapists tend to offer different modalities that can help ease pain. This includes TENS therapy, acupuncture, Ultrasound, etc. But, if your goal is to get healthy, stay healthy and keep your spine and joints moving well, then getting adjusted by a chiropractor would likely be the best way to go. As mentioned before, you can't go wrong seeing either, what matters most is that who you see is going to take the time to diagnose your problem and offer you a specific treatment plan to help you achieve your health goals. How Often Should I Get Adjusted?
If you are already seeing a chiropractor, then your chiropractor should be making a recommendation as to how often you should be adjusted based on your findings. Some people require chiropractic every week or two, whereas most people can go once per month. However, if you are just starting to see a chiropractor and are in pain, once or twice per week at first, is common. In order to maintain the health of your spine you should get a chiropractic adjustment once every two to four weeks. The exact frequency depends on your age, spinal condition and activity level, but seeing a chiropractor regularly can help reduce the chance of injury, prevent spinal degeneration and promote overall health in your body so that you can move well and feel well.
Dr. Spenser Dougley DC, FR, FRCms
