When it comes to chiropractic maintenance care, there are two big questions that tend to crop up. Some people wonder if they’ll need to keep seeing the chiropractic forever if they go once. Other people want to know exactly what maintenance care involves – visits every week? Every month? Let’s take a closer look at both questions. Here’s what you should know about chiropractic maintenance care.
Is Maintenance Treatment Necessary?
Maintenance is a standard part of our lives. We visit the dentist twice annually. We get annual check ups for our skin, eyes and general health. We even take our cars in for oil changes. So when it comes to chiropractic care, yes, maintenance treatment is a good idea. It’s not mandatory by any means, but just as we keep our vehicles in good shape with regular oil changes, we keep our bodies operating at an optimal level with routine visits to the chiropractor.
Two studies, conducted in both 2004 and 2011, back up this concept. In an effort to determine the benefit of maintenance treatment on low back pain, both studies tested for the same specifics, and both showed the same result:
Maintenance treatment sustained the benefits of the initial chiropractic adjustment, with pain or physical limitations caused by pain returning if treatment wasn’t maintained.
Or, in other words, there’s a clear benefit to maintenance treatment!
Maintenance Care – The Nitty Gritty
Now that we’ve established that there is a benefit to maintenance care, you may be wondering what that means. Dr. McSweeney is committed to helping you get out of immediate pain and on with your life. If she feels that your condition would benefit from ongoing treatment, she is always clear with her recommendations. It may mean she’d like you to come back next week, or weekly for a month. It may mean she’d like you to come back once a month for three months.
There is no one-size-fits-all recommendation, and in general, you can come in when you feel like you need a visit. So those fears about having to keep visiting after going once are unfounded. The truth is, you’re more likely to feel so much better when your spine is properly aligned that you’re quick to notice when something isn’t right. And in that case, Dr. McSweeney will be happy to help!