“How often should you go to the chiropractor for a stiff back?”
I am a 40 year old male. I have a stiff back often after work. How often should you go to the chiropractor for a stiff back?
11 Answers
The answer to this question could vary depending on the intensity of work and whether or not there is just tightness or if there is pain too. Ideally, getting in more frequently in the beginning of starting chiropractic care will allow the body to stay more aligned and develop a pattern. Some chiropractors would start you at 2-3 times a week in the beginning of care and continue to decrease the number of weekly visits as you began to feel better and get you to maintenance care of roughly once a month to make sure nothing severe begins in the body with our daily traumas we put ourselves through. If it is just tightness, I would begin with once every other week for a few weeks.
That depends on the cause of the stiffness and the nature of your work. Barring any underlying pathology requiring treatment, routine adjustments can provide relief for "stiffness." The frequency would depend on how much relief the adjustment provides and how long that relief lasts.
Your chiropractor should have a diagnosis why your back is stiff. According to that diagnosis, there is common practice treatment plans that suggest the appropriate frequency of chiropractor visits.
How often depends on the diagnosis provided by a chiropractor. If there is no underlying issues it will not be as often as someone receiving corrective care for deeper/long term issues.
Without actually seeing you and what your history is, I suggest people come to see me a couple of times in the first week. After that, they have been given a series of stretches and exercises to help manage and improve the pain on their own. After the pain and/or stiffness subsides to the point that you are satisfied, I would recommend you return when you need to. Let your body tell you when it is time. Some patients prefer to set up standing appointments several weeks in advance, others simply call when they need us.
Hope this answers your question.
In Health,
Dr. David Campbell, DC
Hope this answers your question.
In Health,
Dr. David Campbell, DC
Once the chiropractor gets rid of your pain, I think once a month is usually good enough to keep you feeling great! Obviously, it differs from person to person.
Dr. Jonathan Donath, DC, MS
Dr. Jonathan Donath, DC, MS
As often as needed.
Depending on your discomfort and how stressful your life is, weekly for maintenance would be common. Most of our patients come twice per month for maintenance and some come weekly because their lives are more demanding.
Doctors of Chiropractic (DC) are licensed doctors who do diagnosis and either performs and/or recommends treatment. That includes all areas of the neuromuscular system. The question is what is causing the problem with the area and that requires diagnosis. Diagnosis can't be done without an examination. If the cause is appropriate and responsive to conservative care then Chiropractic care with its many therapeutic treatments is important and appropriate. Even if the problem has a permanent and/or structural component the treatments may still help, but may not totally eliminate the underlying cause. Don't wait to have the examination, as the sooner the problems is detected and treated the better.
I would recommend once per week for 6-10 weeks. Depending on the cause of your back stiffness, it may resolve more slowly or more quickly.
In these cases, chiropractic adjustments can be helpful when the pain happens but often require up to three visits a week for a few weeks or so to get things back on track.
