Patients of all kinds experiencing pain have found relief and recovery from chiropractic care. Whether a patient visits a few times per week or is just trying chiropractic adjustments for the first time, each chiropractic visit can come with pain relief and a step towards proper alignment. When deciding whether to give a chiropractic plan a try, some people may wonder “how long does a chiropractic treatment last”? Understanding more about the issues each patient faces and how chiropractic therapy works can help determine a treatment period and better understand how long each chiropractic treatment plan will last.
What is Chiropractic Care?
A chiropractic professional will help create a personalized treatment plan for each patient on their first visit. They will determine the best treatment approach through an evaluation of the body and talking through the current pain problems the patient is facing.
A regular chiropractic treatment session entails gentle manipulations of the spine, joints, and muscles to achieve proper alignment throughout the body. Chiropractors will use their hands or a treatment tool to work through the adjustment process in a safe and non-invasive way. As the body moves into healthy alignment from regular adjustments, people typically begin to experience an improvement in normal function, reduction in pain, improved blood flow, increased range of motion and promoted care for injuries.
Forms of Treatment
- Activator Method: This is a gentle method of effective treatment that uses a hand-held chiropractic tool to provide precise adjustment and gentle manipulation. This method is great for children, the elderly, and those who are new to chiropractic health.
- Diversified Technique: This technique is the most common active treatment for chiropractic professionals. This method uses the hands for joint manipulation and spinal manipulation.
- Thompson Technique: Patients will lie face down on a chiropractic table for gentle manipulation with this technique. In this particular method, chiropractic care professionals can best evaluate the pelvis and adjust alignment.
- Webster Technique: This method is used most for expectant mothers during pregnancy. It focuses on the sacral area of the spine and cervical adjustments for patients with symptoms like acute low-back pain.
Gonstead, Toggle, and Cranial-Sacral Techniques: There is an array of therapies that chiropractic care professionals also use to treat chronic pain and alignment issues.
Common Treatable Issues
Chiropractic treatment programs have the unique ability to help improve a wide range of painful conditions and profound injuries. In addition to their effectiveness, adjustment sessions also provide a non-invasive and holistic treatment regimen for those looking to avoid medication or intensive medical intervention.
- Chronic Neck Pain: One of the most common issues chiropractors treat is acute neck pain. When the spine and neck are misaligned from hours bent over a work desk or even an impact injury, many patients suffer from chronic neck pain. If left untreated, misalignment can worsen and pain can persist.
- Chronic Low-Back Pain: The top issue chiropractors help to treat is acute or chronic low-back pain or spinal pain. Alignment issues with the spine can lead to a range of problems and pain. Regular chiropractic sessions can help to keep the vertebrae in line, preventing pain and future issues.
- Sciatica: Sciatica pain occurs when the sciatic nerve in the lower spine is pinched and under pressure. This nerve can cause intense low back pain and pain that radiates down the legs. Most report sciatica issues as having major negative effects on everyday life. Massage therapy and chiropractic manipulations can help to alleviate the pressure on the sciatic nerve and promote healthy blood flow to the area.
- Ear Infections: Having the spine and neck in proper alignment through gentle manipulation can help promote physical function in the inner ear. When the body can flow unobstructed, the ear canal can drain without issue, helping to prevent ear infections without adverse effects.
- Headaches: Issues with chronic headaches can seriously affect day-to-day life for patients. This chronic issue can be improved through spinal and neck adjustments. Many headaches are a result of pinched nerves in the neck and back and pressure caused by misalignment.
- Accident Injuries: Beyond disease, chiropractic care can also help promote healing from injury or surgery. Keep your chiropractor in mind when recovering as they can help to maintain proper blood flow in the body, improving the body’s natural healing ability.
- Bad Posture: While many don’t think about the issues that can arise from poor posture, there are many ways it can harm. Some common side effects of bad posture include back pain, neck pain, chronic misalignment, and headaches.
- Future Injury Prevention: You don’t have to wait until you’re in pain to see your family chiropractor. Investing in your overall health and wellness while keeping your body in proper alignment can help prevent many issues from popping up in the future. Chiropractic care can also be a great complementary therapy to other health.
Terms of Treatment Length
For a single treatment session, the length of the treatment period will be determined by the amount of adjustment needed and the type of injury being treated. Typically, an average office visit will last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.
Injury Timeline
The duration of a treatment plan from start to finish will rely on a variety of factors. The main factor will be the pain or injury the chiropractic care is targeting. For specific injury recovery, the duration of treatment will last until the healing has reached a good point and the pain has been diminished. This can last anywhere from a few treatment sessions to ongoing therapy over multiple months.
Chronic Timeline
For a chronic issue, like neck pain or back pain, treatment sessions may be ongoing. Chronic issues are likely to reoccur if treatment is stopped. Overall, the duration is always up to the patient’s needs and the chiropractor. Some patients will treat pain as it arises and suspend treatment until the issue comes back while others prefer to maintain a consistent schedule of adjustments to avoid future pain.
Effectiveness Timeline
The timeline of treatment may also depend on the effectiveness of chiropractic adjustments. Sometimes, chiropractic care isn’t the best option for a particular patient or the problem they’re facing. An injury may need more intensive medical treatment, like surgery or medication, making a chiropractic treatment plan ineffective to the root injury.
If pain increases with adjustments, there is no change in symptoms after multiple treatments, or pain goes away completely, the treatment plan may be suspended.
