How Long Does Chiropractic Treatment Take?

By Dr. Kevin Wafer

July 13, 2011


“How long does chiropractic treatment take?” is one of the most common questions I hear from new patients is how long will it take to feel better? As much as I wish that there was one answer that I could give every patient, that’s simply not the case.

Every patient heals at a different rate that depends on factors such as age, your activity level, and how long you have had the problem. Also, many chiropractors don’t focus on your pain alone, they also focus on fixing the problem that has caused your pain, so that it doesn’t return in the future.

how long does chiropractic treatment take

Generally, patients tend to start getting pain relief after the first few visits. I always tell patients before I adjust them for the first time, that 60% of patients get some pain relief after their first adjustment, while another 30% feel better after two or three visits. The other 10% generally respond a little slower.

Your age also has an impact on the healing process. Younger patients, those in their 20s and early 30s, tend to respond to chiropractic treatment faster than middle aged patients. Those patients that are past middle age may have a slower response to chiropractic care.

How long does chiropractic treatment take to work?

How long does chiropractic treatment take to work? Well, your treatment time also depends on how long you have been in pain. If you have a chronic problem that has been there for years, generally it will take longer for you to reach results with chiropractic care. That’s why my advice is to always seek a chiropractor as soon as possible once you’ve started to feel pain, this will greatly reduce the amount of time it takes for you to start getting some relief.

If you live an active lifestyle that consists of regular exercise, you will most likely respond to chiropractic care faster than someone who doesn’t exercise and lives a sedentary lifestyle. Exercise helps the body heal, and regular movement helps make sure that your joints don’t get stuck in one position.

That’s why I always advise my patients to start some type of exercise once they’ve begun treatment. I’m not asking them to go out a run a marathon twice a week, just go out for a thirty minute walk three times a week. You would be surprised how much better you would feel after a few weeks.

How long does chiropractic treatment take to have lasting results?

How long does chiropractic treatment take to have lasting results? The length of your treatment plan depends on whether you want to just get out of pain, or if you want to actually fix the problem that caused you pain in the first place. If you are just concerned with getting out of pain, your treatment time will be much shorter, however there is a good chance the pain will come back if the underlying problem is not fixed.

That’s why chiropractors usually recommend care even once the patient is out of pain. This ensures that the bones stay in the proper position and the joints stay moving properly, thus fixing the problem so that you don’t have to worry about it coming back again.

As you can see, there are a number of factors that play a role in determining how long you will be under chiropractic care. Whether you are looking for a quick patch to get you out of pain, or you want to make sure that the problem is solved and never comes back, chiropractic can get you the help that you want. The choice is ultimately yours, but we will always give you our best recommendation.

Dr. Kevin Wafer

About the author

Dr. Kevin Wafer was born and raised in Spring, TX. Since his mother worked as a chiropractic assistant, he spent much of his childhood in a chiropractic clinic and was adjusted for the first time at only 3 months of age. Click Here To Read Full Bio

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