For years, we have long suggested that chiropractic care is most effective if you utilize it in a preventative way. I have often told patients that we are a lot like dentists, where most patients initially come in with a problem that we need to fix (which I use cavities as a metaphor). Once it is fixed, we ask patients to come in periodically for maintenance care, which is a lot like teeth cleanings for dentists. There is now strong evidence for positive effects of chiropractic maintenance care:

The following points are from a systematic review of 14 studies,  including the extensive Nordic Maintenance Care Program:

The Data: What Maintenance Care Really Does

  • Patients who received Maintenance Care experienced 13 fewer days of pain over 12 months than those who only visited when symptoms recurred.
  • Pain episodes decreased by 22% when patients adhered to a Maintenance Care schedule every 1-3 months.
  • Consistent care led to significant reductions in disability, particularly for patients with a history of chronic pain who responded well to initial treatment.
  • Chiropractors and patients agree: Maintenance Care is essential for preventing flare-ups and maintaining optimal function.
  • Clinicians in the study emphasized the importance of regular visits, noting that spinal manipulation coupled with patient education, exercise, and lifestyle coaching delivered the best outcomes.

If you haven’t seen us in a while, please contact us for a maintenance checkup!


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