If you've ever been to a chiropractor, you know that they can help with back pain and other issues. What you may not know, however, is that there are different phases of chiropractic care. This article discusses each of these phases in detail and explains what to expect from each one.

Relief Care 

The first phase of chiropractic care is relief care. This phase is all about providing relief from your pain and other symptoms. It typically lasts for a few weeks to a few months. During this time, you'll likely need to visit the chiropractor multiple times per week. As your symptoms start to improve, you may visit the chiropractor less often.

The main treatment during relief care is chiropractic adjustments. These are gentle, precise movements that help to restore normal alignment and function to the spine and other joints. Chiropractic adjustments can help relieve pain, improve range of motion, and reduce inflammation.

In addition to chiropractic adjustments, your chiropractor may recommend other therapies to help you during this phase of care. These may include massage, heat/cold therapy, electrical stimulation, and stretching.

Finally, your chiropractor could suggest lifestyle changes to help you during this phase. You may need to change your diet, get more exercise, or reduce stress. These changes can help speed up your recovery and prevent further pain and injury.

Corrective Care

Corrective care focuses on addressing the underlying cause of your condition. For instance, say you come in for chiropractic care because you have chronic headaches. After taking X-rays and performing a thorough examination, your chiropractor may find that your headaches result from a misalignment in your spine. In this case, your chiropractor would work to correct the alignment, which would, in turn, relieve your headaches. This process may take several weeks or months, but chiropractic care is often most effective when received long-term. That's because chiropractic care is not simply a way to relieve pain in the short-term but rather a way to address the underlying cause of your condition. In many cases, this underlying cause is a structural issue that can only be corrected with long-term chiropractic care.

If you are living with pain or dysfunction, corrective care may be able to help you get back to living your best life. You may need to follow a specific treatment plan for a while, but chiropractic care can offer lasting relief from many conditions.

You can expect these two phases of chiropractic care when visiting a chiropractic clinic. Each stage is important in its own way, and your chiropractor can work with you to ensure you get the most out of your treatment.