Once I see a chiropractor, will I need to keep going?
No.
Really, no.
There’s a common misconception that “once you start going to a chiropractor, you’ll have to go forever”. We’re here to put that record straight – and tell you what you should expect from chiropractic care. And if you're worried about being recommended for more care than you need, make sure to check out our previous article on choosing a chiropractor.
When should I stop coming to a chiropractor?
We know now that those who have regular maintenance check-ups with their chiropractor have better health outcomes than those who don't. Ongoing care is good for you - but you don't have to choose it.
You can stop coming whenever you like. It’s your care, your body and your money. Mostly, we see people for a specific pain or injury, who want to know when they can stop care without relapsing.
To discuss this, it would be helpful to define three broad phases of chiropractic care. Each one has a slightly different focus.
Ideally, as we progress through the phases, patients take on more of an active role in their recovery. We call this self-management. We will often signpost them to certain exercises or classes to help them progress.
Some patients need more support, some need less. Some, having been given all the information, prefer not to take that much of an active role in their recovery and let their chiropractor handle it – which is fine by us. After all, you can always change your mind later.
When do people leave care?
These phases of care are not entirely distinct and usually blur into one another. But they are useful for showing when most patients want to stop treatment. There are three typical exit points:
When their condition has failed to improve
This one should be self-evident. Your chiropractor should review your case if nothing has changed after two weeks at the latest, possibly sending you to another professional with a referral letter.
Care can fail to improve a condition for any number of reasons and it’s not always possible to tell beforehand who won’t improve. In short, if you don’t get better, there isn’t necessarily anything wrong with your chiropractor. But if you don’t get better and your chiropractor doesn’t change anything, then there is something wrong with your chiropractor!Once their pain has abated (end of Phase 1)
For some people, just being out of pain is enough for them. They leave care after a small number of treatments with some advice on self-care.Once normal function is restored (at the end of Phase 2)
Others carry on and may make some changes with advice from their chiropractor. Often this will include specific and general exercise advice, but once they feel they are functioning well again and can manage their own progress they may stop care. This could be after six weeks or six years depending on the progress they make in their own time.
Some patients choose ongoing care
Success in healthcare is a team effort. We're happy to support you in whatever way suits you.
Some patients continue with their care for a long time as they like the benefits that ongoing chiropractic care brings. Which of the three groups above you fall into doesn’t matter – what matters is that you feel you are making the right decision for you.
Many patients do very well having left care at an early stage. They might have changed their exercise regimen or made some other adjustments to their routine that helped to support the benefits they’d received. Sometimes the episode was a minor blip, and once they’ve been helped through it they can quickly return to their healthy, active lifestyle. Your chiropractor should give you all the facts necessary for you to make an informed decision and make it easy for you to discontinue care whenever you’re ready.
So don't worry about getting trapped in endless treatments. If you see your chiropractor regularly and are thinking of stopping, discuss it with them. They should be happy that you’re taking a more active role in your care and should be able to give you advice on how to succeed. Nothing makes us happier than setting patients up for long-term success.