How many chiropractors does it take to screw in a light bulb? Just one but it will take about 10 visits.
One of the things that separates any conservative intervention from the quick-fix world of drugs and surgery, is the number of required treatments. Physical therapy, massage, acupuncture and chiropractic alike require a treatment plan with follow-up care and re-evaluation for a person to experience the full potential of the treatment. This article will focus on the aspects and phases of a chiropractic treatment plan and why it is necessary to have follow-up visits.
Every health problem, regardless of the severity, location or chronicity has a natural course of resolution. Some conditions will take 4-6 weeks for the body to heal itself without intervention such as a sprain, strain, or some fractures. Other conditions end in death or permanent disability if there is no intervention used, like some cancers. This concept is known as: Natural History. The goals of a health practitioner’s treatment are to 1) decrease the total healing time relative to a condition’s natural history 2) alter the natural history of conditions that won’t improve or may become worse if left alone and 3) to decrease the symptoms of a condition as the body heals. In this regard, Chiropractic is no different than any other health method.
Most people begin seeing a chiropractor because they have some level of pain. Maybe their problem is acute, meaning that it has come on recently and often the symptoms are at peak intensity. Some see the chiropractor because they have subacute problems which have passed through that acute stage but there is still some lingering disability or pain. Others will see the chiropractor for chronic pain which doesn’t seem to improve or recurs often over months and even years. There is a smaller percentage of people who don’t have symptoms at all but wish to use Chiropractic care to keep them healthy and prevent potential problems.
Regardless ot the reason for seeing a chiropractor there are phases of care which are aimed at helping a person to overcome whatever challenge they are facing and return to full, symptom-free health. The first phase of care is focused on helping a person to diminish their symptoms. It is not uncommon for somebody to leave after a first chiropractic visit for any type of injury with their symptoms decreased in intensity by at least half. For many people this is their primary concern: get rid of the pain. Subsequent treatments usually will result in fewer and fewer symptoms until there is no pain, numbness, tingling, limitation in range of motion, etc. Treatments in this phase may happen at a frequency of 2-3 times per week.
The second phase of care is corrective where the patient and chiropractor work to improve the function of problem areas. For example, there may be an imbalance of muscle strength, recurrent restriction of movement, or reflexive postural challenges which must be corrected for long term recovery. Treatments in this phase will occur less frequently than acute care (once every 7-14 days).
The third phase of care is rehabilitation. Rehabilitation is focused on ensuring that the problem heals completely and in a way that the tissues and nervous system recover to a point where a person returns to their full function if not better. The treatment frequency is similar to corrective care and may even be performed at the same time. Most rehabilitation work is done by the patient at home in the form of exercise which the chiropractor will evaluate during visits.
Finally, care enters the wellness phase where the patient is encouraged to receive treatment on a regular but less frequent basis (every 4-6 weeks). This care is focused on reducing the chances that injury will occur and treating problems early to decrease the overall healing time. Wellness care is part of a healthy lifestyle just like exercise, eating healthy, and good hygiene. Research has shown that this approach is effective for reducing the amount of disability that people experience after they have been injured.
Most people are only thinking about getting out of pain when they seek treatment. With chiropractic the goal is much greater. The goal is to help you completely recover from an injury or condition. While it is possible to be completely pain free after one visit, no intervention medical, chiropractic or otherwise can take somebody through the complete healing process in one visit. To answer the question: Why Do Chiropractors Want You to Keep Coming Back? the answer is that the chiropractor understands what is necessary to help you heal completely and then maintain the highest level of health over a lifetime.