Laying the foundation
Chiropractic care is like building a house - certain things have to happen in a particular sequence in order for everything to stand strong and work correctly. When building a house, if you tried to put up your walls before you built a solid foundation, your walls would be weak and eventually collapse. If you tried to put on your roof before the walls were ready, you would run into the same problem. The same is true for your body. Your body has to go through a particular plan of care in order to repair itself correctly and to heal fully. There are three general phases of chiropractic care . . .
Phase 1: Relief Care
If you are in pain when you come into our office, the first objective is to help you feel better. Depending on the severity of your problem, it is typical to require frequent adjustments 2-3 times per week for the first few weeks of treatment. Most patients experience some relief within the first 1-2 visits.
Phase 2: Corrective/Restorative Care
During the corrective care phase, muscles and other tissues are allowed to heal more completely, thereby helping to prevent injury. Like getting in shape or losing weight, this process can take several months as we begin to change unhealthy/abnormal muscle patterns into healthier muscle patterns. The length of this phase of care depends upon your overall health and the severity of your condition..
Phase 3: Wellness Care
Once your body has fully healed, it is important to return for periodic adjustments to avoid regression in your condition and prevent problems from developing in the future. This would be similar to wearing a retainer after removing braces from your teeth. It takes several years to straighten teeth, but without maintaining the alignment with the retainer, the teeth can eventually revert back to their original alignment. Usually, this only requires a quick visit to the chiropractor 1-2 times per month, based on your lifestyle and goals.