A common question that comes up is how often it is necessary to visit a chiropractor. Everyone is different, and the frequency of treatment depends on each individual’s specific situation/condition, health goals, and needs. Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind that can help get an idea of what to expect.

Seeing a Chiropractor

Chiropractors are the top experts in addressing underlying issues concerning the spine and musculoskeletal system. The most common reasons for seeking chiropractic treatment are musculoskeletal:

• Conditions
• Injuries – work, sports, automobile, personal
• Rehabilitation
• Pain relief
• Fitness
• Chronic fatigue
• Brain fog
• Sleep problems

For example, back pain is one of the top causes of disability. The workforce and medical community are seeing the effectiveness of chiropractic in reducing medical costs and loss of productivity. Spinal misalignment is an overlooked problem that can lead to various health issues, including chronic pain and poor blood and nerve circulation. Restoring alignment is the first step in building sustainable health and achieving optimal quality of life.

Effective Treatment

Chiropractic treatment follows three stages. There is an emphasis on each stage and a specific focus on working toward long-lasting optimal health. Each phase is also associated with different treatment protocols to achieve the best results.

Stage 1 Pain Relief

Starting treatment when the pain is at its most intense means the first step is bringing relief as quickly as possible. This is accomplished through:

• Adjustments
• Ultrasound
• Heat and Ice
• Massage
• T.E.N.S
• Stretching
• Exercise
• Other techniques to stabilize the individual

Stage 2 Restorative Care

Once the pain is relieved, the focus turns to long-term healing of affected tissues like the:

• Muscles
• Ligaments
• Neural tissues

This helps with long-term recovery while reducing the risk of worsening or creating further injury/s.

Stage 3 Maintenance Care

This final stage is the monitoring stage. The chiropractic provider understands how important it is to regularly monitor an individual’s health and alignment to address any issues that come up and deal with them before they worsen or lead to other problems. Monitoring prevents unnecessary distress and helps the individual return to normal life.

Optimal Results

Achieving lasting results for symptoms cannot be done with a quick one size fits all treatment. With the guidance of a chiropractor, the individual will learn to recognize subtle changes in their body to alert them to adjusting lifestyle habits. Contact Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic to determine what treatment and frequency offer the best results.

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Body Composition

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Inflammation That Can Become Permanent

When white blood cells cause inflammation, this is a sign that the body’s immune system is properly functioning. Inflammation starts, the white blood cells attack the invader, it is neutralized, and the inflammation recedes. This is how the body’s defense system works naturally. But the white blood cells are not the only type of cell that has the ability to release cytokines. The second type of cell that can release cytokines and cause inflammation are adipocytes/fat cells. The body stores excess calories as fat so it can use them later for energy.

Scientists have learned that fat is an active endocrine organ. It can secrete a host of proteins and chemicals, including inflammatory cytokines. When the body keeps adding, more adipose tissue, cytokines are released by the fat cells, triggering inflammation. Obesity is characterized as a state of low-grade, chronic inflammation. This means that increased fat cells put the body in a constant state of stress and immune response. This means that the body is always in a state of inflammation, and the immune system is permanently switched on. Perpetual, never-ending inflammation is not healthy for the body.

References

Hadler, N M. “Chiropractic.” Rheumatic diseases clinics of North America vol. 26,1 (2000): 97-102, ix. doi:10.1016/s0889-857x(05)70123-x

Iben, Axén, et al. “Chiropractic maintenance care – what’s new? A systematic review of the literature.” Chiropractic & manual therapies vol. 27 63. 21 Nov. 2019, doi:10.1186/s12998-019-0283-6

Goertz, Christine M et al. “Effect of Usual Medical Care Plus Chiropractic Care vs. Usual Medical Care Alone on Pain and Disability Among US Service Members With Low Back Pain: A Comparative Effectiveness Clinical Trial.” JAMA Network Open vol. 1,1 e180105. 18 May. 2018, doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.0105