Here is a question I get weekly, if not daily
in my practice… Trust me, being in practice for 26 years, I have had many great
questions.
Here is the question…
“Hey Doc, why does this back pain keep coming
back?”
My typical response is: well, there are lifestyle
activities that may contribute or help prevent relapses:
1. Posture
2. Body Mechanics
3. Regular Exercise
4. Nutrition and Hydration
5. Sleep
I then remind my patients, that those
lifestyle decisions are “FREE”.
Many patients do all of those lifestyle
activities very well, some not so much.
Regardless, relapses tend to continue.
So, let’s talk about the next
step - Preventative Chiropractic
Maintenance Care
Chiropractic maintenance care is treatment received in order to
prevent future pain or health problems, prevent a relapse, and to improve
quality of life. Maintenance care is elective, so that
means that the choice is yours!!
When it comes to receiving chiropractic care, patients can be
divided into three groups.
1. The first group of patient’s recognizes the
benefit of preventative care early on and elects to receive
maintenance care after they are helped through their first episode of
pain. These patients take a proactive stance on their health.
2. The next group of patients may decide that
after experiencing three or four flare-ups of pain that they would rather not
let their condition to get to that point again! They realize that they do not
experience as much pain (or as many health problems) when they receive
chiropractic care every 4-6 weeks (for example); regardless if they are
experiencing pain at that point or not.
3. The third group of patients never elects
to receive maintenance care and typically stops care once they are feeling
better. They usually reserve going to the chiropractor only when they are
in severe pain or when they are experiencing a crisis. These patients
take a reactive stance on health care. While there is
nothing wrong with this approach, it does limit the number of benefits that chiropractic
care can provide. They use chiropractic for pain relief only.
With all this being said, it is still the patient's decision to
receive maintenance care. We cannot, nor do we desire to force anyone
into receiving treatment that they do not want. We let our patients
benefit from chiropractic as long as they want. However, our job is to
educate patients on all treatment options so that they can make an informed
decision about their health care.
Research shows that regular chiropractic treatment can
prevent degenerative changes ("arthritis") from developing.
There are many other benefits that patients report (anecdotal evidence) from
receiving chiropractic care on an occasional basis, even if they are
experiencing little to no pain. They are as follows:
1. Better sleep quality - many patients sleep longer and more
soundly after an adjustment.
2. Fewer muscle spasms and numbness - normal moving spinal joints improves
muscle and nerve function.
3. Better athletic performance- symmetrical joint movement ensures that
muscles do not have to strain in order to move a joint. Many elite
athletes promoted regular chiropractic care during the peak of their career:
Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Jerry Rice and Joe
Montana to name just a few.
4. Fewer headaches- many report less frequent headaches and
migraines and if experienced, they are usually less severe.
5. Less need for medication- Many chiropractic patients report using less
medication after starting care. (Especially pain medication!)
6. Fewer medical doctor & hospital visits- many of our maintenance patients consider us
as the primary resource to manage many common musculoskeletal ailments. Our
Schubbe Resch chiropractors treat all the joints and muscles in the body. If
more care is needed, a referral can be made when necessary.
7. Easier to Breathe- patients often report that after an adjustment
they can take a deep breath again. Mobilizing the mid back and ribs
allows for as much as a 30% increase in lung capacity. Asthmatic patients often
find that they have fewer attacks and use less medication when under
chiropractic care.
8. Better circulation- Older patients or sedentary patients report
feeling like they have better circulation after receiving treatment
9. Fewer
Surgeries- I wish I could document
how many patients have dodged a lower back or neck surgery as a result of
regular chiropractic care. Having said
that, how many surgeries have occurred due to a decision not to have regular
chiropractic care. It’s like taking
vitamins; we will never know what regular positive lifestyle decisions prevent…
Fewer Health Care Costs- Let’s face it, medical care is
expensive. Being unhealthy is
expensive. Patients are facing higher
insurance costs than ever. High
deductibles and co-pays are now the norm.
Relatively speaking, ethical quality chiropractic care is very
affordable. Maintaining your health and
preventing future health conditions will save you money and improve the quality
of your life.
As you can see, there are many benefits of receiving
chiropractic care on a maintenance schedule. However, the decision to
receive preventative maintenance is always up to the patient. Whatever
you decide, we'll respect that decision.
Insurance companies may or may not cover chiropractic
maintenance care. It depends on your
insurance plan and your diagnosis. In
the event your insurance does not cover maintenance, both Schubbe Resch offices
have “Day of Service Payment Plans” to help make the care affordable.
Please
consider Preventative Chiropractic Maintenance Care
