How Long Do Chiropractic Adjustments Last?

A chiropractic adjustment is not a magic bullet. It's a treatment that helps the body heal itself, and how long an adjustment will last depends on the needs of your body and the goals of your treatment. Discuss your individual treatment plan with your chiropractor, and look over this background information to help you understand how your chiropractor makes decisions.

---

What a Chiropractic Adjustment Does

• An Adjustment Releases Endorphins: Endorphins are your body's native painkillers. A chiropractic adjustment encourages your body to release endorphins, causing immediate temporary pain relief and often relieving pressure on pinched nerves.
• Chiropractic Adjustments Increase Nutrients: Locked muscles and joints restrict blood flow and healing. Because chiropractic adjustments restore motion, the blood supply and healing nutrients return to the affected area, helping the healing process.
• Relieve Pressure with Adjustments: Inflammation that presses on or rubs a nerve can cause considerable pain. Adjustments can restore motion and relieve pressure and pain.
• Adjustments Refresh Muscle Memory: Your brain remembers your joints' motion through proprioceptive signals. When chiropractic adjustments restore motion, the brain remembers the new movements and provides a functional refresh.

---

Factors in Determining Time Between Adjustments

Your goals in chiropractic care generally determine how many adjustments you will need, and how frequently. Different chiropractors may have different approaches, too.

If you are treating an injury with chiropractic care, you may want to return to your prior state of health and not return unless you have problems. Common back and neck pain may be treated in a few sessions, possibly with once-a-week visits.

An injury causing serious pain will likely require intensive treatment, with as many as two or three back adjustments a week, gradually decreasing as your condition improves.

A regular preventive program can help chronic problems or boost athletic performance, with visits every week or once every couple of months.
Those with work-related or lifestyle problems such as hours at a computer or too little exercise may benefit from a regular adjustment every two to four weeks to prevent problems.

---

How Long Can Each Adjustment Last?

Because each person and their goals are so different, it's hard to pinpoint a length of time each adjustment should last.

People undergoing severe pain may find adjustments last only a day or so. Those who seek adjustment to boost performance may find their adjustments last a month or more-or even a year.

Your chiropractor will adjust your treatment plan as you progress. A typical plan might last three to six weeks, followed by a reevaluation.

---

Regular chiropractic adjustments help your spine's health and your overall health too. If you are feeling some tension or pain, or if you want to catch minor misalignments before they cause problems, call King Chiropractic Hand & Foot in Wilmington at (910) 777-7228 to schedule an appointment. You and Dr. King can discuss a treatment plan that will work best for you.