How Often Should You Get a Spinal Adjustment?
So, you’re considering an appointment for a mobile chiropractic spinal adjustment with Mobile Wellness Care. Congratulations! You’re on your way towards a life of pain-free wellness! Understandably, there may be many questions running through your head as your appointment date nears.
One such thought might be if there will need to be more than one treatment. And if so, when should your next appointment be and how many of them will you need. The frequency of spinal adjustments and other services is a common concern many patients have, with some wondering if there’s such a thing as getting too many adjustments.
We will try to answer all your questions here, so continue reading!
How Often Should You Get a Spinal Adjustment?
There are numerous factors to consider when it comes to getting a spinal adjustment.
Factors like budget, the current conditon of your spine, your health goals and availability will need t0 come into consideration. It’s important to communicate this information to your chiropractor in order to get an appropriate treatment recommendation.
Let’s take a deeper look at such factors:
Common Treatment Plans
One of the first things to consider when it comes to getting a spinal adjustment is the type of injury or pain you’re experiencing. Personal goals are another major factor that can impact how often you need to visit your chiropractor.
Generally, most treatment plans involve more spinal adjustments in the beginning, with the number decreasing over time. That’s because as your spine and surrounding tissues heal, the focus will become more supportive in nature and primarily focused on maintaining your health and alignment, rather than repairing the injured tissue.
The majority of pain issues or injuries will require between 4-12 sessions to achieve the best results. Afterward, ongoing maintenance will be recommended to prevent the pain from returning. It will also reduce the risk of additional injuries from occurring due to spinal misalignment.
Here’s a common regimen to treat neck and back injuries:
- Weeks 1 & 2: 2-4 adjustments weekly
- Weeks 3-10: 1-2 adjustments weekly
- Week 10 onwards: 1 adjustment bi-weekly or monthly
Note that this is just an example, and your treatment plan may differ. Your chiropractor will customize your plan according to your specific needs and goals.
How Long Does a Spinal Adjustment Take?
So many appointments in a week may seem overwhelming because of the time it could take. However, this doesn’t need to be a cause of concern because sessions are actually much shorter than most of the doctor appointments you’re accustomed to! Especially when they are performed in the comfort of your home or office by a mobile chiropractor. While visits can take longer if additional therapies are required, receiving a chiropractic adjustment generally takes less than 10 minutes. It’s so short that many patients use their lunch breaks from work to get their spinal adjustment.
Of course, the first appointment may take a bit longer. It will involve the chiropractor reviewing your medical and family history, conducting an exam, and communicating with you to create the appropriate treatment plan.
Can I Have Just One Spinal Adjustment?
This is another frequently asked question. Some ask because of budget issues, while others simply don’t have time for multiple weekly visits. Whatever the reason, however, the answer should be no. While you can experience significant pain relief from just one spinal adjustment, it won’t make lifelong changes to your bodies structure, health and function, compared to if you were to go to a chiropractor regularly. One session won’t be enough to correct your issues, it will only bring some pain relief, which may eventually come back.
This is why your chiropractor will recommend a treatment regimen that not only focuses on providing immediate relief, but also improved spinal alignment for better health. You can enjoy many health benefits from regular spinal adjustments, including reduced risk of injuries, less stress, improved sleep, and even a reduction of certain illnesses.
For those who are afraid of regular chiropractic sessions because you are afraid they will hurt, let us put your mind at ease. For the vast majority of patients, chiropractic adjustments feel great and bring an immediate sense of euphoria and pain relief. Even when adjustments are uncomfortable or even painful in cases of individuals experiencing significant muscle tightness and inflammation, they too nearly always experience immediate relief following the adjustment. There’s also no need to be intimidated by the cracking or popping sounds associated with an adjustment. The sounds you hear is simply air being released from your joints as the chiropractor realigns your spine.
In some cases, a patient may experience some soreness after an adjustment. This is most common following someone’s first adjustment or if it has been a long time since their last one. The soreness often appears the following day. This is similar to the soreness you would feel after a deep massage or intense workout and is actually a sign of healing. The soreness is generally gone within a day or two and can be alleviated with ice and/or topical analgesic creams.
Why Regular Spinal Adjustments are Required
Think of chiropractic care like maintaining your car. We all know that regular oil changes and routine maintenance will prevent more serious problems and extend the life of your car. In a similar way, regular chiropractic treatments will help prevent more serious problems from developing and allow you to stay active and feel your best for years to come.
Chiropractic care is no different than working out to build muscle or doing yoga to improve flexibility – If you want to see results, you must do it consistently. Again, chiropractic is best utilized as a preventative and routine practice to maintain your health.
To determine how many spinal adjustments you will need, have a discussion with your chiropractor. They will provide a tentative treatment plan that can be modified depending on how well your body responds to your initial and subsequent adjustments. Depending upon your progress, your chiropractor may increase or reduce the number of necessary appointments you need each week or each month.
Wrapping It Up
When it comes to the frequency of getting a spinal adjustment, turn to your chiropractor for the best answer. They will have a good idea how many times you will need treatment based on your history and the current condition of your spine. Factors that must be considered are the length of time you have had your condition, your weight, your overall health, your activity level, your work environment and so forth. In general, you can expect to require a spinal adjustment at least once a week, until your condition improves enought to reduce the frequency to once every other week or once a month.
Now that you better understand the benefits of regular chiropractic care, contact us now to book your chiropractic adjustment and feel better!
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