Wellness care, and what continuing to come in is for

Wellness care, sometimes called maintenance care, means continuing to see a chiropractor after the problem that first brought you in has settled down. Whether that makes sense for you depends on your history, current function and goals. This is a choice to revisit, rather than a commitment to appointments indefinitely.

What continuing care is for

Our focus is musculoskeletal function: joint mobility, muscle and joint stiffness, comfortable movement and recurrent musculoskeletal tension. A useful conversation starts with a specific goal, such as walking farther or managing a recurring episode of back pain.

A randomized trial of maintenance care studied adults with recurrent or persistent nonspecific low back pain who had responded well to initial chiropractic care. Scheduled care reduced days with bothersome pain over a year compared with visits prompted by symptoms, but involved more visits. That selected population and outcome do not establish that everyone needs adjustments to stay healthy. Nor do we offer maintenance adjustments as treatment for digestive disease, blood pressure or immune problems.

Keep the plan connected to everyday life

Ask what you can do between visits, which activities to adapt, how progress will be assessed, and what would justify reducing or stopping appointments. For back pain, NICE recommends supporting usual activities and tailoring exercise to the person's needs and abilities. Manual therapy is an option within a package that includes exercise. Read the guideline.

The alternatives to periodic manual care include exercise, physical therapy and self-management with clinical support when needed. Exercise can build capacity you use outside the clinic. A medical review may be the better next step when symptoms change or a plan is not helping. Read more about back pain and general chiropractic care.

Older adults: function, safety and falls

Bring up previous falls, osteoporosis, prior surgery and medicines before considering manual treatment. Age alone does not answer whether a particular technique is appropriate; the individual assessment matters.

Fall prevention deserves a broader plan. Strength and balance exercise, review of medicines that can cause dizziness, attention to vision and removal of trip hazards are among the measures described by the CDC. We do not promise that adjustments prevent falls, reverse aging or remove the need for other healthcare.

Stress, anxiety and physical discomfort

Stress and anxiety can come with tension, headaches, body pain and sleep difficulties. Persistent anxiety that interferes with life deserves assessment by a medical or mental health professional. Psychotherapy and medication are established treatment options; an adjustment is not a replacement for anxiety care. NIMH explains stress, anxiety and when to seek help.

If musculoskeletal discomfort is part of what you are experiencing, discuss it alongside the other care you receive. Ask us to keep the treatment goal specific. We do not claim to correct mood, hormones or organ function by changing spinal alignment.

Benefits and risks should stay part of the conversation

The most commonly reported effects after spinal manipulation are short-lived soreness or stiffness. Serious events have been reported, and available evidence does not establish their frequency reliably. An individual discussion of risks, alternatives and expected benefit belongs before treatment and again when the plan changes. NCCIH summarizes the evidence and safety information.

If we are not able to help you with your problem or are unable to reduce your pain levels, we will make sure to give you a recommendation to another experienced provider. Contact the team to discuss your next step.