Recognizing you need chiropractic help isn’t the problem. In fact, finding a chiropractor that’s right for you doesn’t even take that long (after all, there are tens of thousands to choose from). Figuring out how often you should schedule an appointment is the hard part.
So how often should you get a chiropractic adjustment?
Unfortunately, there’s no quick or one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The good news is you don’t have to come up with the answer by yourself. Your chiropractor will let you know how often you should show up at the office once they assess your needs.
Haven’t visited a chiropractor yet? Don’t worry. You don’t have to make a guess in the dark. We’ve put together this guide to help you learn (roughly) how often you should expect to get an adjustment from your chiropractor, so make sure you keep reading below to learn more!
What’s the Purpose of Your Visit?
Start by asking yourself why you’re visiting your chiropractor in the first place.
Is your back or neck in pain? Do you want to keep painful problems from creeping up on you in the future? The way you answer these questions will have a big impact on the number of adjustments you need a month.
Keep in mind, the only person who can figure out how often you should get an adjustment is your chiropractor. During the initial consultation, your chiropractor will put together a personalized treatment plan based on your needs, so you shouldn’t try to use this article as a replacement for professional advice.
However, this guide can give you an idea of what you can expect for your pain level. That said, here are a few examples of what your treatment plan might look like.
Preventative Adjustments
Preventative chiropractic adjustments are for people who want to stay healthy and prevent potential problems or for people just coming off a more intensive treatment plan. In most cases, you can wait an entire month between this type of appointment.
But that’s not always true.
It all depends on your personal health, your daily activity, and what type of job you have.
For example, let’s say you’re a healthy individual who spends most of your time sitting at a computer for your office job. While slouching, sitting, and typing might cause trouble for your body over time, you don’t put as much stress on your body as, say, a roofing contractor. Since a roofing contractor spends most of their days climbing around on roofs, bent over double, working with heavy tools, etc., they may not be able to wait an entire month for their next adjustment.
People who have high-stress lifestyles may need to schedule an appointment with a chiropractor every two weeks instead.
Adjustments for Treatment
If you’re getting adjustments to treat a specific injury, you may need to visit your chiropractor more often. But again, it depends on the type of injury and your pain levels.
The more serious the injury and the more intense the pain, the more adjustments you’ll need. For a minor injury, you may need a chiropractic adjustment every other week. For bigger injuries, you may need to get an adjustment every week (or maybe even more than that).
More Pain = More Adjustments
Are you in serious pain?
Your chiropractor may recommend two to three adjustments every week to start. This might seem like a lot, but it will help you heal as quickly as possible so you won’t have to deal with constant pain.
Most people won’t have to go through this many treatments a week. However, if you have a major health condition, it might need this type of major treatment.
Expect Your Treatment Plan to Change
You might have to drive to your chiropractor’s office a lot at the beginning of your treatment, but as you heal, you’ll see them less and less. So just because you have to get three adjustments a week right now doesn’t mean you’re stuck setting aside that much time in your schedule for the rest of the year.
During your consultation, your chiropractor should set up a treatment plan that only covers the next month or so. That doesn’t mean you’ll be fully healed by then. Instead, your chiropractor will reevaluate your condition at this time.
They’ll then set up a new treatment plan, which may involve fewer adjustments. As a general rule, the better you get, the fewer appointments you’ll have.
How Often Should You Get a Chiropractic Adjustment? Setting up a Consultation With a Chiropractor
So how often should you get a chiropractic adjustment?
There’s no easy answer to this question. It all comes down to what type of adjustment you need, your health condition, how much pain you’re in, etc. That said, if you want to see your chiropractor for preventative adjustments, you may only need to schedule one or two a month. If chiropractic adjustments are part of your treatment plan, you may need that many in a single week.
Remember, you should only use this article as a guide. You need to set up a consultation with a professional chiropractor if you want an adjustment schedule that’s accurate to your personal needs.
Not sure where to find chiropractic services?
Our team at Wellness Connection can help you recover from a variety of health conditions. Don’t hesitate to set up an appointment with us today or to get in touch with us if you have any questions.