How Often Should You See a Chiropractor? Finding the Right Care Schedule for Your Needs
One of the most common questions we hear is: “How often should I schedule chiropractic visits?” The truth is, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. The right schedule depends on your health goals, lifestyle, and the condition you’re addressing. At Mountain Movement Chiropractic in Spearfish, we focus on creating a personalized plan that helps you feel better, stay active, and maintain results long-term.
The Three Phases of Chiropractic Care
We use what we call the Mountain Movement Approach, which follows three phases of care. Each stage has a different goal and frequency to make sure you’re moving toward lasting results.
Phase 1: Relief – Move Without Pain
This is the starting point for many patients. The focus here is reducing pain and calming irritation in the joints and muscles.
Frequency: Often 2–3 times per week for the first few weeks, then tapering to once a week as symptoms improve.
Why: More frequent care at the beginning helps break the pain cycle and kickstart healing.
Phase 2: Rebuild – Restoring Function and Strength
Once pain is under control, we shift to correcting the underlying issues.
Frequency: Typically 1 visit every 1–2 weeks for several months, depending on how your body responds.
Why: This stage focuses on alignment, strength, flexibility, and correcting movement patterns to keep the pain from coming back.
Phase 3: Sustain – Health That Lasts
The last phase is about maintaining your progress and preventing future flare-ups.
Frequency: Ranges from monthly visits to quarterly check-ins, depending on your activity level and risk factors.
Why: Think of this stage like routine dental cleanings—it’s about staying ahead of problems before they return.
What Affects How Often You Should Come In?
Severity of your condition: Acute injuries may need more care upfront, while long-standing issues usually require longer but less frequent care.
Your age and health: Younger, healthier patients may progress faster, while older patients or those with multiple conditions may need more ongoing support.
Lifestyle demands: Desk workers, athletes, or those in physically demanding jobs often need more frequent care to offset daily strain.
Your body’s response: Everyone heals at a different pace. We monitor your progress and adjust your plan as needed.
Common Conditions and Visit Frequency
Acute low back pain: Often 2–3 visits per week for a few weeks, then tapering down.
Chronic neck pain: Typically twice a week at first, then weekly until improvement holds.
Headaches and migraines: May require frequent visits at the beginning, then monthly tune-ups to prevent recurrence.
Signs You May Benefit From More Frequent Visits
Persistent pain despite initial care
Symptoms that keep coming back
Physically demanding work or high stress
Multiple prior injuries to the same area
Consistency Matters
The key to lasting results isn’t always more visits—it’s the right visits at the right time. Staying consistent with your plan usually delivers better results than only coming in when symptoms flare up.
Ready to Find Your Schedule?
At Mountain Movement Chiropractic, we build care plans around your life, not the other way around. Whether you need short-term pain relief or long-term support, we’ll find the schedule that works best for you.
📍 Mountain Movement Chiropractic – Spearfish, SD
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