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