Estimated reading time: 11 minutes
Most people first visit a chiropractor because something hurts. It may be low back pain, neck pain, headaches, an injury, or simply a problem that keeps coming back.
But once they are feeling better, some people choose to continue with periodic chiropractic check-ups even when they are not experiencing significant pain.
Why?
The reason is fairly simple. They want to stay mobile, keep doing the activities they enjoy, and address small problems before they become bigger ones.
I often compare this approach to regular dental check-ups. You don’t necessarily wait until you have a toothache before seeing your dentist. In the same way, some people choose to have their spine, nerves, joints, muscles and movement checked periodically rather than waiting until they are hurting again.
After more than 30 years as a chiropractor in Edmonton, I have found that people choose regular chiropractic care for many different reasons.
Pain Is Not Always the First Sign of a Problem
One of the most important things I try to teach my patients is that how you feel isn’t always a perfect measure of how well your body is functioning.
A joint may gradually become stiff. Your posture may slowly change. A muscle may not be working as well as it should. You may start compensating for an old injury without realizing it.
You might not notice much at first.
Eventually, however, these smaller changes can begin affecting how you move and feel.
This is one reason I believe in addressing problems early rather than simply waiting for significant pain.
During a chiropractic check-up, I assess things such as spinal and joint movement, posture, nerve and muscle function and how your body is moving. When I find a problem, we can decide whether it needs to be addressed and what other strategies – such as exercise, better movement habits or changes to your daily routine – may help.
Regular Chiropractic Care May Help You Maintain Mobility
Human beings are designed to move.
Unfortunately, modern life often involves a lot of sitting, driving, computer work and time looking down at phones and other devices. As we get older, previous injuries, repetitive activities and simply moving less can also contribute to stiffness.
Maintaining good mobility becomes increasingly important as we age.
You want to be able to walk, exercise, golf, garden, travel, play with your children or grandchildren and continue doing the things you enjoy.
Chiropractic adjustments are intended to help restore movement to joints that aren’t moving properly. In turn, this helps the nervous system and brain function better.
Although chiropractic care can be an important part of addressing problems involving the nerves, muscles and joints, it shouldn’t replace regular movement and exercise.
I encourage my patients to move well every day. Walking, strength training, mobility exercises and simply spending less time sitting are all important parts of maintaining a healthy and active body.
Think of chiropractic care as one possible part of that bigger picture.
Regular Care May Help People with Recurring Back Pain
Some people have a back or neck problem that seems to follow a familiar pattern.
They feel better for a while, something starts tightening up, and eventually the pain returns.
For these patients, waiting until the problem becomes severe may not always make sense.
There is research supporting this approach for certain people with recurring low back pain. One randomized clinical trial followed patients with recurrent or persistent low back pain who had responded well to chiropractic treatment. Those receiving scheduled maintenance chiropractic care experienced fewer days with bothersome low back pain over the following year than those who returned primarily when symptoms occurred. (1)
That doesn’t mean everyone needs ongoing chiropractic care.
It does suggest that for some people who repeatedly experience the same problem, periodic care may be a reasonable option.
That said, there is also an argument for regular chiropractic care as part of a proactive approach to health, with the goal of helping the spine and nervous system function well rather than simply waiting for back pain or another problem to develop.
Regular Chiropractic Care Helps You Stay Active
One of my main goals with chiropractic care is not simply helping people hurt less.
I want them to function better.
That includes maintaining:
- mobility
- muscle strength
- balance
- coordination
- good movement patterns
- the ability to remain physically active
These become particularly important as we get older.
If stiffness, pain or an old injury causes you to stop exercising or participating in activities you enjoy, the consequences can extend beyond the original problem. You may gradually lose strength, mobility and physical capacity.
Keeping your body moving well can make it easier to keep moving.
What About Posture?
Posture is another reason some people choose periodic chiropractic check-ups.
Poor posture usually isn’t caused by one thing. It can develop through a combination of prolonged sitting, repetitive positions, reduced mobility, muscle weakness and daily habits.
A chiropractic adjustment by itself isn’t going to permanently correct posture if you return to the same habits every day.
That’s why I encourage patients to combine chiropractic care with better positions, regular movement, strength exercises and changes to their work or home environment when necessary.
Read more: Better Posture Throughout the Day: Simple Ways to Reduce Stress on Your Body
The goal isn’t to maintain “perfect posture” every minute of the day.
The goal is to avoid spending too much time in the same stressful positions and to keep your body strong and adaptable.
Can Regular Chiropractic Care Prevent Injuries?
No healthcare provider can promise that regular treatment will prevent injuries.
But there is value in identifying problems that may be affecting how your body moves.
If I find an area that has lost mobility, a muscle that isn’t functioning properly, or a movement pattern that has changed, addressing the problem early may help you move more normally and comfortably. This in turn may help prevent injuries.
This can be particularly useful for people who place regular physical demands on their bodies through sports, exercise, physical occupations or recreational activities.
Just as importantly, a chiropractic check-up may reveal that what you really need is a particular exercise, more strength, better mobility, improved technique – or simply some recovery time.
How Often Should You See a Chiropractor?
There isn’t one schedule that is right for everyone.
Some people choose periodic chiropractic care every few weeks. Others may come every month or two. Some people only return when they notice a problem developing.
How often you might benefit from care depends on factors such as:
- your age and overall health
- previous injuries
- how physically active you are
- your occupation
- how much you sit
- whether you have arthritis or other existing problems
- how frequently your symptoms return
- how well you respond to chiropractic care
Someone who exercises regularly, moves well and has few previous injuries may require very little care.
Someone with recurring back pain, a physically demanding occupation, previous injuries or significant stiffness may find that more regular check-ups work better for them.
The important point is that regular chiropractic care should be individualized rather than based on an arbitrary schedule.
Why My Family and I Choose Regular Chiropractic Care
I don’t just recommend periodic chiropractic care to my patients. I choose it for myself, and my family members have also received regular chiropractic care over the years.
For us, it isn’t about constantly treating pain. Most of the time, I’m not hurting when I get checked and adjusted. I do it because I value staying mobile, active and functioning well, and I would rather pay attention to smaller changes in my body before they become bigger problems.
The same philosophy has guided how I have cared for my family. We exercise, try to eat well, get adequate rest and take care of our health in other ways too. Chiropractic care is simply one part of that bigger picture.
After more than 30 years in practice, I’ve seen how easily people can gradually lose mobility or change the way they move without really noticing it. I’ve experienced that myself as I’ve gotten older. That’s one reason I personally prefer a proactive approach rather than waiting until I’m in significant pain before doing something about it.
That doesn’t mean everyone needs to follow the same schedule that I do – or even choose regular chiropractic care at all. But when patients ask me why someone would continue seeing a chiropractor when they aren’t hurting, my answer is simple: it’s the same reason I do. I want to keep moving well and doing the things I enjoy for as long as I can.
Do You Have to Keep Seeing a Chiropractor Forever?
No.
This is something I think patients should understand clearly.
You always have a choice.
Some people come to me because they are in pain, complete their recommended course of care and return only if another problem develops.
Others notice that they feel and function better when they have their spine and movement checked periodically, so they choose to continue with regular care.
Neither approach is right for everyone.
My job is to assess you, explain what I find, make recommendations and help you decide what makes sense for your health and your goals.
Chiropractic Care Is Only One Part of Staying Healthy
Regular chiropractic care shouldn’t be viewed as a substitute for taking care of yourself.
The things you do every day matter tremendously.
Move regularly. Exercise and maintain your strength. Avoid spending too much time in poor positions. Get enough sleep and recovery. Eat nutritious real food. Manage stress. And pay attention when your body tells you something isn’t working properly.
These are the same principles I emphasize in my Healthy Habits approach.
Chiropractic care can complement those habits by helping you maintain movement, adapt to stressors, and identify problems that may be interfering with how your body functions.
Address Problems Early
One of the biggest lessons I have learned from more than three decades in practice is that it is usually easier to address a problem when it is small than after it has significantly affected your life.
Pay attention if:
- pain keeps returning
- something isn’t improving
- you are gradually losing mobility or strength
- you develop numbness or tingling
- an old injury keeps flaring up
- something simply doesn’t feel or move right
You don’t necessarily need to wait until you are in significant pain.
Sometimes having a problem assessed early can help you understand what is happening and what you can do about it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily. Some people choose periodic chiropractic check-ups because they want to maintain mobility, monitor recurring problems and address changes before significant pain develops. Others prefer to see a chiropractor only when they have symptoms. The decision should be based on your individual health, examination findings and goals.
That said, there is also an argument for regular chiropractic care as part of a proactive approach to health, with the goal of helping the spine and nervous system function well rather than simply waiting for back pain or another problem to develop.
There is no single schedule that works for everyone. Depending on your health, activity level, previous injuries and tendency toward recurring problems, periodic visits might range from every few weeks to every couple of months. Other people may need care much less frequently.
For some people with recurrent low back pain, periodic chiropractic care may help reduce the number of bothersome pain days. Research suggests maintenance care can be helpful for selected patients who have recurrent or persistent low back pain and who respond well to chiropractic treatment. It should still be combined with appropriate exercise, movement and healthy lifestyle habits.
You can. Pain is one reason to see a chiropractor, but it isn’t the only reason. Some people have their movement, posture, muscles, nerves, and joints assessed periodically, particularly if they have previous injuries, recurring problems or notice changes in how their body is moving.
A Proactive Approach to Your Health
You don’t have to wait until something hurts badly before paying attention to it.
For some people, regular chiropractic care is simply part of a proactive approach to staying mobile, active and healthy.
Much like exercise, nutritious food, good sleep and regular dental care, the goal is not to chase symptoms. The goal is to take care of your body so you can continue doing the things you enjoy.
If you are wondering whether periodic chiropractic care makes sense for you, I would be happy to assess how your spine, nerves, joints and muscles are functioning and discuss what – if any – ongoing care would be appropriate.
Dr. Dean Collins has been providing chiropractic care to Edmonton patients and families for more than 30 years.
To schedule an appointment at Collins Chiropractic Health & Wellness Centre, you can call, text or book an appointment online.
About Dr. Dean Collins
Dr. Dean Collins has been helping Edmonton patients improve their health through chiropractic care since 1998. With over 30 years of clinical experience, he has worked with patients of all ages, helping them reduce pain, improve mobility, and maintain healthier, more active lives. At Collins Chiropractic Health & Wellness Centre, Dr. Collins focuses on identifying the underlying causes of pain and dysfunction while providing personalized care, education, and practical strategies to support long-term health and wellness.
For more information on how chiropractic care could help you, your family, or friend read our complete guide to chiropractic care.
Sign up for our Dr. Collins’ newsletters and blog posts
Sign up Dr. Collins’ newsletters to receive vital information on how to keep your spine and nervous system healthy as well as how to help optimize your health and avoid chronic illness.
Leave a Reply