How often should you see a chiropractor – is it one or two adjustments, or is a schedule of consistent care better for you? Lets see what the research says.
One of the most common misunderstandings about chiropractic care is the belief that one or two visits should be enough to resolve chronic low back pain.
Research published in Spine by Haas and colleagues examined the relationship between chiropractic care frequency and outcomes in people with chronic low back pain. The findings were clear: patients who received a higher dose of chiropractic care experienced greater improvements in both pain and physical function.
This study demonstrated a dose–response relationship, meaning that consistent care led to better results. Chronic low back pain reflects long-standing movement and nervous system patterns, which require repeated, specific input to change.
At Family Chiropractic Chatswood, care plans are structured to reflect this research. These care plans are carefully structured around the client, and the specific results that have been attained in the initial consultation. This involves a consultation with Dr. Brett where he will talk about your case history and look to set some achievable goals for care; a functional examination; XRay findings; and the length of time the underlying problem has been there for. Chiropractic adjustments are delivered with consistency to allow the spine and nervous system time to adapt, stabilise, and improve function. Much like the consistency attained when going to the gym to improve strength or fitness, or having braces on your teeth to allow them to straighten.
Chiropractic care is not an ‘event’. It is a process as the research has demonstrated, leading to better, more long standing results.
This evidence supports a shift away from one-off or symptom-driven care toward structured chiropractic protocols focused on long-term recovery.
