This month we’re turning our attention back to addressing some of the major misconceptions out there surrounding chiropractic care.

One of the major misunderstandings swirling around is the idea that once you go see a chiropractor, you’ll get stuck having to go see them for life.

It’s an idea that stems from a number of misconceptions about chiropractic care specifically and health care in general–misconceptions which we’ll outline below.

The goal is always recovery

First though, let us just start by saying that the goal for any legitimate chiropractor is always full recovery. It’s never to keep our patients dependent on us so that they keep coming back when they could otherwise be restored to full health.

Like any medical profession, there can be bad apples who exploit people’s health for personal and financial gain. Just watch the movie Love & Mercy for a true example of such a therapist.

But for us and the vast majority of practitioners, our goal is never to keep our patients coming in unnecessarily.

Chiropractic care doesn’t just loosen the joints

Many people think that chiropractic adjustments actually serve to loosen the joints. So the more adjustments one receives, the more they end up needing to go back to the chiropractor.

Like many misconceptions, this is based in a half-truth.

Many chiropractic adjustments do involve the loosening of a joint that has become stiff or locked up. But the goal of loosening the joints is always to strengthen the joints and restore normal, healthy functioning. 

It isn’t just to make that joint super loose and flexible–any chiropractor worth their salt will tell you that. If a joint is already loose, we leave it alone.

“Then why do I know people who go to a chiropractor all the time?”

Many folks look at their friend, neighbor or family member going to the chiropractor once a week and think, “That seems like an awful lot.” Thus, they must have been made overly dependent on the treatment.

But this line of thinking fails to understand the phases of chiropractic care.

For the folks whose joints don’t get fixed right away, treatment often occurs across a few phases. The first phase tends to be more intensive care in order to relieve symptoms. The next couple phases focus on adding stability and strength, then corrective measures like re-training the patient’s posture. 

For patients who come in with particularly severe pain or long-lasting issues, these first couple phases may require up to multiple visits per week. So it may appear abnormally frequent to the outside observer.

But the point here is that this kind of frequency is just for a phase of treatment. It’s also worth noting that for many people, this is the first time they’ve found genuine relief from their pain apart from medication.

Preventative care is a basic part of health care

At this point, many patients enter into a maintenance-oriented treatment plan. They go see their chiropractor for regular check-ups and adjustments when needed.

Many people see that as an unhealthy dependence on chiropractic care. But do we treat any other form of health care this way?

Do you go to your doctor for regular check-ups and screenings? Do you go to your dentist for regular cleanings? Do you go to your gym for regular exercise?

In most cases, we do these things to prevent pain, disease or discomfort. And chiropractic care is no different.

So if you know someone who regularly visits their chiropractor and they seem fine, that’s kind of the point. It means it’s working!

It’s not a commitment for life

So the next time you or someone you know is considering chiropractic care, know that it’s not a commitment for the rest of your life.

At Petett Chiropractic, our goal is always to relieve pain in the quickest and longest-lasting ways possible. But if your situation requires sustained care, we’re in it for the long haul too.

Just give us a call at (425) 277-2225.