3 Chiropractic Phases of Care

When you visit a chiropractor, the goal is more than just quick pain relief (although we know how important that is when you’re in pain). Chiropractic care is a comprehensive process that aims to restore and maintain your body's optimal function over time.

Think of it a bit like maintaining your car; you wouldn't just fix a flat tire and ignore the rest of the vehicle! Similarly, chiropractic care involves three essential phases: relief care, corrective/restorative care, and long-term wellness care.

1.     Relief Care: The First Stop on the Road to Recovery

Relief care, also known as the acute phase, is often where a chiropractic journey begins. We see many patients in our Brisbane chiropractor clinic seeking immediate relief for pain and discomfort that might be caused by an injury, health condition, stress, or poor posture.

At your first appointment, we begin by discussing your health history to give us a background on any surgeries, accidents, or situations that may be affecting your current health.

Then, we’ll conduct a thorough musculoskeletal and chiropractic examination which may include X-rays. This allows us to identify areas of spinal malfunction and work towards a personalised plan of chiropractic adjustments to help relieve your pain.

During this stage, treatments may be more frequent as we aim to reduce inflammation, ease muscle tension, and realign the spine through natural and non-invasive techniques. The aim here is to get you back on track with symptom relief.

2.     Corrective/Restorative Care: Treating the Underlying Issues

Once your immediate pain is under control, the next phase - corrective or restorative care - begins. The goal here is to address the root cause of the problem, by correcting any spinal misalignments, restoring motion and flexibility, and improving your overall posture.

Depending on your individual situation, your care plan may include pelvic blocking, Sacro-Occipital Technique (SOT) or the Gonstead Technique.

During this phase, your visits might become less frequent, but the adjustments and exercises are targeted at reinforcing the changes made in the first phase. Like a full car service, it’s about ensuring all parts are functioning correctly - not just the ones that were causing the immediate issue.

3.     Wellness Care: Keeping Everything Running Smoothly

The final of the chiropractic phases of care, known as wellness or maintenance care, is ongoing. This phase involves regular check-ups and adjustments to keep your spine aligned and your nervous system functioning at its best.

The great thing about chiropractic care is it’s preventative, so if you maintain the improvements made during the earlier stages, you may prevent new issues from arising (1). Many people drop off after the first phase, thinking they’re "fixed” - however, holistic wellness is a continuous process.

The Road to Optimal Health

To truly benefit from chiropractic care, it’s essential to commit to the entire process - from relief to correction to maintenance. Equilibrium Family Wellness is here to guide you on your journey - Book a chiropractic appointment with us today and let’s get started.

References:

1.     https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-88227-3_7