As a chiropractic office, we get asked the question regarding chiropractic adjustment frequency and what’s the standard as well as a few others quite often. We routinely hear:
“When do I need to come back?”
“Do I need to come once a week or once a month?”
“Is there such thing as being over-adjusted if I want to come back more often?”
These all point to a common misconception about the chiropractic adjustment frequency at which you should be adjusted.
The problem with all these questions is there really is no right or wrong answer. As chiropractors know, in a perfect world, you would get adjusted daily to keep your spine in perfect alignment; however, we all know that is neither realistic nor feasible. Instead, consider coming on a weekly basis, or at the very least, a monthly basis.
Being adjusted on a routine basis without the presence of pain is referred to as “routine maintenance.” Just like you get oil changes for your car even if there is no visible issue with it, you should get regular maintenance for your body. Preventative treatment is key to keeping your body in the best shape possible. Regular maintenance goes hand-in-hand with the logic behind chiropractic. Chiropractic ensures that your nervous system is functioning properly so that no one area of your body is getting less than what it needs to function at its full potential. When you come in for an adjustment, the doctor checks for restrictions or spots where the spine has too much pressure and causes an unbalance in the nervous system. When you come in on a routine basis, there’s less chance for something to get “stuck” in a poor position, and if it does, it tends to move easily on your next visit, relieving any pain quickly.
While there are instances in which you do need to come in more frequently, like when you’re in acute or severe pain, those are special circumstances and the doctor will insist that you come in more frequently for the first few weeks and then less frequently once you’re feeling better and your spine is holding the adjustment. Once your spine has adapted to the correct positioning again, you’ll be back on a routine maintenance schedule and visiting just once a month, once a week or whichever works best for you and your lifestyle.
In the end, it is your body; we can suggest the chiropractic adjustment frequency that we know will make you feel better, but when in doubt, try to get in a routine and don’t wait for pain to tell you to come in. Your spine and body will appreciate it.