3 PHASES OF CHIROPRACTIC WELLNESS

A Breakdown of the 3 Phases of Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care has continued to grow in popularity over the years and this is attributed to its positive effects on human health and longevity. If you need to undergo chiropractic care, a plan must be set in place for you by your chiropractor. You need to have a full grasp of the plan – which comes in 3 phases – so you will know what to expect as you go through each phase.

Here is a breakdown of the 3 phases of chiropractic care:

Phase 1: Crisis or Relief Care

If you are a first-time user of the services of a chiropractor, this is where you will most likely begin your treatment. People who seek out chiropractic care on a regular basis do not need to go through this phase.

The #1 objective of this phase is to get rid of your symptoms so that the patient can start functioning properly again.

It begins with a comprehensive examination to find out the areas where there is spinal dysfunction. When the area is discovered, a care plan is drafted on which two objectives are highlighted:

i. Resolve or reduce dysfunction/discomfort;

ii. Ensure your condition remains stable within a short time.

Each chiropractic care plan is personalized, though this depends significantly on the present condition of the patient. Phase 1 can take from 2 to 8 weeks to complete, and this is confirmed via objective testing and x-rays.

Phase 2: Corrective Care

Also known as Rehabilitative Care, this phase centers on the maintenance of the progress that has been made thus far in the crisis phase while strengthening the tendons, muscles, and the ligaments.

Since the stressed areas in the spine have started obtaining some relief it is crucial to give your body enough time to adjust to all of the surrounding tissues. The frequency of visits to see your chiropractor during Phase 2 also reduces significantly as your body becomes more stable.

Phase 2 can last from 6 to 10 weeks, though this depends considerably on your progress and severity of your initial examination.

Phase 3: Wellness Care

 This is the third and final stage of chiropractic care. This phase involves the maintenance of spinal function as well as improved health. It also has to do with the prevention of any future condition or those that have been corrected previously so that they do not reoccur.

This is also the phase where your overall health will be considered with the aim of enhancing it. This includes discussing topics on nutrition, fitness, sleep, weight loss, hydration, supplementation, and mindfulness. This of course depends on the patient’s goals.

If you have a trauma, motor vehicle accident, or injury you may have to start again from the first phase, i.e., Crisis Care.  But since your body has undergone this program before you will move more quickly through the phases.

Regular maintenance is essential to your optimal health especially if you do not want to experience spinal misalignment and optimal health throughout your life. We encourage our patients to continue with chiropractic care throughout their lifetime just as you continue with your dental hygiene.  Dental hygiene and spinal hygiene are very similar as both are needed to make sure those systems function properly.  Except, in my opinion your nervous system is much more important because every single tooth in your mouth can be replaced but there is no such thing as a spine transplant and there never will be.  If your spine was on your face you would take better care of it!  Don’t wait for a crisis to occur before you seek chiropractic care, be preventative in your spinal health just the same way you don’t wait for a cavity to see your dentist.  Preventative care is much easier and less costly than crisis care.  Call to make an appointment with your chiropractor today to make sure your spine is as healthy as you think it is. 

Yours in Health,

Dr. Brian Wallace