There are three stages of Chiropractic care. They go by different names but the purpose of each is clear. The overall aim of chiropractic care is not just to eliminate pain but to also prevent it coming back. Regular chiropractic checks keep the patient informed about which stage of care they need.
Initial Intensive Care - Most new patients are in the initial intensive care stage. If an ache, pain or other obvious symptom has prompted them to begin chiropractic care, the first thing they want is to feel better. Patients attend the clinic frequently, depending on the severity of the problem, and treatment is aimed at providing immediate pain relief. Intensive care can last anything from a few days to several weeks.
PRESSURE SORES STAGES
Gentle adjustments are made on the spine to restore movement to the stiff and painful joints, as well as relieving irritation on the spinal nerves and muscles. Self-help advice is often given between visits, such as the use of ice to reduce inflammation or back supports to take the strain off sore joints and ligaments. Exercises are recommended because too much rest at this stage causes more stiffness.
Rehabilitative Care - Muscle and other soft tissue damage often remains after original symptoms have improved. The chiropractor focuses on stabilising and strengthening the spine now that the patient should be more comfortable. patients who choose to discontinue care at this time are more likely to have the symptoms come back weeks, months or even years later. This can often be prevented with appropriate rehabilitation.
As patients do not need to be seen as frequently at this stage, a strict exercise regime is usually prescribed and other self-help tips. Exercises lead to stronger and more flexible muscles, especially in the spine and trunk.
The exercises that are the most effective are sit-ups, trunk raises, squats and specific buttock and thigh training.
It is also true that the benefits last only as long as the exercises are done. People who stop their exercises lose their improvements.
In the rehabilitation phase, which can last from a few weeks to several months, chiropractors can advise on ergonomics and lifestyle changes to avoid the daily postural stresses that contributed to the problem in the first place.
Maintenance Care - Once the chiropractor is happy that the spine is functioning to the best of its ability, regular chiropractic check-ups are often recommended to help preserve and maintain progress. The two reasons for this third and ongoing phase are:
1. To maintain all of the improvements in the spines function that have been achieved by the chiropractor. Patients who have suffered for a long time may never be totally free of symptoms. For these patients, regular adjustments keep them active and help prevent further deterioration. People with severe arthritic changes fall into this group, and they often find considerable relief from regular chiropractic.
2. To prevent recurrence in problems that have been relieved. If the first two phases of care are followed according to the chiropractors instructions, more than 90% of patients obtain lasting relief from pain.
It does not stop here. As people continue with activities of daily living, the stresses and strains that contributed to the problem in the first place start exerting themselves. Bending, lifting, carrying, sitting, even minor trips and bangs put pressure on the delicate spinal tissue causing further problems. These may go unnoticed at first but eventually the pain threshold is reached and the cycle begins again.
This is avoidable. A programme of periodic visits based on the chiropractors clinical experience with other patients with similar conditions, can help catch little problems before they have any symptoms at all. This is just like going to the dentist for a check-up.
How long you decide to benefit from chiropractic care is, of course, always up to you. Many people make regular trips to their dentist because catching problems early avoids needless pain and expense later on. And so it is with chiropractic.
This information was brought to you by the Chiropractic Information Service.
The Three Stages of Chiropractic Care PRESSURE SORES STAGES
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