Phases of Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care is not a magic pill or a miracle drug. Instead, it is a cumulative therapy where each session builds on the other, resulting in optimal nervous system health. It is like going to the gym or physical therapy. Chiropractors are healing without the use of drugs, pills, or surgery. We are using our hands and various instruments to align the spine, hence helping the function of the nervous system. Will one adjustment make you feel good? Most times, the answer is absolutely! However, some problems that have been present for a while will persist and come back. Most of us would love to go to the gym one time and instantly be in great shape. However, that is not realistic, just like one adjustment will not cure everything that ails you. For this reason, there are three phases of chiropractic care. These phases provide a solid blueprint on the best way to improve your quality of life.

Phase 1: Initial Intensive Care

Most patients have musculoskeletal complaints that are causing them significant discomfort and interfering with their usual way of life. Therefore, 90% of these patients are in the “Initial Intensive Care” phase. As chiropractors, we are initially trying to reverse a pattern of the spine being misaligned to provide quick pain relief. The problem has probably been there for a significant amount of time. These patients are generally seen about three times a week to start until the pain level has gone down to a liveable level. When the chiropractor deems they are ready to proceed, they go into the next phase of chiropractic care — Corrective Care.

Phase 2: Rehab and Strengthening Care

In the Rehab and Strengthening Care phase, the patient feels significantly better. This phase aims to continue the healing and start making changes to the spine that will prevent this injury from happening again. The therapies during this phase are generally changed from acute care to working different muscle groups, reversing bad postures, and rehabilitating the spine and nervous system. These patients are typically seen twice a week until satisfactory results are seen by both the chiropractor and the patient. These positive results bring us to the essential phase of chiropractic care — Wellness Care.

Phase 3: Wellness Care

The best analogy I can give for the Wellness Care phase is an automotive repair….we have fixed the car, now we are just taking it back for tune-ups. This is more of a preventative phase of care, like paying it forward. If you get the “tune-up”, we generally prevent the same problems from arising again. Wellness care can be anywhere from once a week to once a month. It depends on the patient and different factors, such as age, fitness level, activities performed, etc.

At Markson Chiropractic, we help patients restore their nervous system health based on the three phases of chiropractic care. If you are looking to improve your quality of life, contact us to schedule a consultation and get your treatment plan started today.