How Often Should You See a Chiropractor?

Aug 11
3 min read

Dr. Kevin Murphy, DC, Chiropractor at Whole Body Health and Wellness in Maple Ridge

One of the questions I get asked quite often is, "How often should I see a chiropractor?"

It's a good question, and the honest answer is that there isn't one schedule that works for everyone.

As a chiropractor, I look at a number of things when deciding how often someone should come in. It depends on what brought you in, how long you've been dealing with the problem, what I find during the assessment, and how your body responds to treatment.

It Depends on Why You're Coming In

Someone who has recently hurt their back may need a different treatment schedule than someone who has been dealing with stiffness or recurring pain for several years.

For example, if you've recently developed significant low back pain, we may start with appointments a little closer together while we're trying to get things moving and help reduce your symptoms. As things improve, we can usually spread the appointments out.

On the other hand, someone who is feeling pretty good but has some ongoing stiffness or wants help maintaining their mobility may not need to come in as often.

You Don't Necessarily Need to See a Chiropractor Forever

This is another question I hear from patients, and ultimately, it's your choice.

A lot of people benefit from regular chiropractic care. Once we've addressed the original problem and they're feeling better, some people choose to continue coming in regularly for maintenance or proactive care.

For some people, that makes sense because they know they tend to develop stiffness, aches or other issues if they leave things for too long. They'd rather stay on top of things than wait until a small problem becomes a bigger one.

Other people prefer to come in when an issue arises and deal with it at that point. That's completely reasonable too.

I don't believe there is one right approach for everyone. My job is to help you understand what's going on, give you recommendations based on your individual situation, and then let you decide what works best for you.

What Happens Once You're Feeling Better?

Once your symptoms have improved, we can talk about what makes sense going forward.

Some people choose to come in only when something starts bothering them. Others prefer occasional appointments to help stay on top of an issue that tends to come back.

There isn't necessarily a right or wrong answer. It really comes down to your goals and what works for you.

For me, the important thing is that you understand why you're coming in and what we're trying to accomplish.

So How Often Should You Come?

If you're asking me for a specific number, I would have to assess you first.

I don't think it's helpful to tell everyone they need to see a chiropractor once a week, twice a week, or once a month without knowing anything about them.

Your treatment plan should be based on your individual situation and how you respond to care.

If you're dealing with back pain, neck pain, headaches, stiffness, or another musculoskeletal issue, I'd recommend starting with an assessment. From there, we can talk about what I think would be helpful and how often you may want to come in.

I've been practicing as a chiropractor in Maple Ridge for over 10 years, and one thing I've learned is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to chiropractic care.

My goal is to help you feel better, move better, and give you the tools to stay that way.