How often should I see a chiropractor?
There are some things you can just count on. Almost every single new patient I see in Midtown Manhattan, New York asks, “How often should I see you for an adjustment?” And, for almost every patient (whether they live in Manhattan or not), my answer is, “It depends on your goals”.
Did you wake up this morning, bend over to feed the dog only to have your back “go out” on you and now you can’t walk up stairs? Are you only concerned with fixing today’s pain?
At Level Up Sports Chiropractic, we understand that everyone wants to feel better immediately. “Feeling better” is a normal result of a successful chiropractic adjustment. Following your first adjustment, our intent is that all our patients experience a decrease in pain as well as a greater range of motion. There are instances when pain may still be there in some form.
A Common Scenario
Usually, spinal and other alignment problems did not occur due to one day’s activities. People in need of an adjustment tend to have a history of on-and-off pain over months and even years. In situations where they now have constant, annoying and nagging pain or sharp, extreme and shooting pain, it’s important to understand its cause. Persistent pain is often the result of wear and tear that finally surpassed your body’s ability to heal without outside help.
And healing takes time.
To heal, you also have to be honest about what caused the problem in the first place. Have you stopped exercising? Have you gained weight over the last five years? Have you been carrying too much weight at work, during a home project or even a hobby, causing accelerated aging to your joints? In western New York, years of summer bicycling, winter skiing or “weekend warrior” home renovations can add up!
Set Realistic Goals
If your goal is to simply rid yourself of the pain that was brought on by “one incident”, it probably won’t take long to treat and heal. Often, you will need to be adjusted 2-3 times per week for a couple weeks to begin feeling better. However, if you want to address your underlying concerns about what’s caused you to have a constant level of stiffness before your “big injury” or if you want chiropractic care to change your posture or your underlying mechanical dysfunction, we are talking about a much longer process.
Investing in YOU
Dealing with long-standing pain is a process that can require months of scheduled adjustments. Once alignment and comfort are restored, and pain is reduced or eliminated, it’s time to evaluate your goals.
Remember, your body is in constant use. Maintaining your health is like maintaining any other machine. It requires good fuel (healthy foods), regular use (healthy exercise) and maintenance (healthy rest and recovery). Part of that maintenance for many health-conscious people is scheduled chiropractic adjustments.
How Often?
What do I consider regular? Well, I’m adjusted by my own chiropractor every week. Being adjusted regularly keeps little concerns from becoming big concerns. For my patients, especially those who sit and work at a desk all day, I recommend that they maintain their adjustment schedule every couple weeks. Your chiropractor will be able to tell you what is the right schedule for you.
If you are in the Midtown Manhattan, NY area and you have been suffering from back, neck or joint pain, don’t wait. One more thing we almost always hear is, “I thought it would get better”. Cuts and scrapes commonly heal, misalignments, well that can be a different story.