Author: Dr. Alyssa Boyer, DC, DNCert
If you’re reading this blog, or a part of this newsletter then I’m sure you’re aware that Dr. Byrne and I are both chiropractic physicians here at Acacia Natural Medicine in Scottsdale, Arizona. I think a little refresher every now and then never hurt anybody! So, with longevity being our theme this month, I thought this would be a great opportunity to talk about how chiropractic care is an essential part of creating and optimizing longevity in your life. There’s so much I could talk about when it comes to chiropractic (because I just love it so much), but I’ll keep this one short, sweet, and to the point.
Many people think that you only come to see your chiropractor when something is hurting or you injured yourself, which is true, you should come see us then, but it’s also great to come see us when nothing is “hurting.” Let me explain. What I just spoke about above would be considered an acute case, meaning the injury or pain is new. Typically, when this happens, we will do our initial treatment and come up with a treatment plan. As we come up with our treatment plan, we separate the phases. The first phase consists of intensive care, meaning we are looking for a 50-60% reduction in the symptoms that brought you in the first place. Once we reduce the symptoms, we have begun to manage the pain, but there’s no stability in the area. Meaning the injured area is neutral at this point. That is why we move into the next phase known as the stabilization phase of care. This is where neuromuscular rehabilitation and re-education can take place. When tissue is damaged or sustains an injury, it takes time for the tissue to heal and it also takes time for the new tissue to be at the same capacity for movement that it was pre-injury. That’s why the stabilization phase is so important.
After we progress to this point, this is where maintenance care comes into play. If all that the chiropractor does is to reduce the pain and stop there, the chances of the condition recurring are much greater. To prevent a recurrence of symptoms, it is necessary to continue receiving care even though your symptoms are gone at this point in treatment. Maintenance care includes continued exercising, stretching and daily/weekly/monthly rehab and postural exercises to prevent or limit future injury from occurring. Regular chiropractic maintenance care varies from patient to patient depending on stressors that you place on your body, your day to day habits/movements, and exercise frequency and intensity. If you are someone who is hard on your body, whether it be through work or daily exercise, you may benefit from more frequent appointments to reduce or eliminate your risk for future injury. Maintenance chiropractic care allows for improved posture, better athletic performance, reduced injuries and can contribute to an overall pain free lifestyle. This type of care can also save time and money by keeping minor problems from becoming more serious.
At the end of the day, everyone can benefit from regular maintenance care. I like to think of it in comparison to brushing your teeth and changing the oil in your car. When you maintain something, it lasts much longer. Your body is the same way!
