Between work, hobbies, and sundry appointments, you probably live a very busy life. Therefore, trying to add a chiropractic visit to your packed schedule can be challenging, particularly if you don’t really know what to expect! Or how long a chiropractic appointment normally takes…
After the initial appointment, most chiropractic appointments are around 10 to 30 minutes. Although adjustments typically only take a few minutes to perform, your chiropractor will also use the appointment to discuss your progress and treatment plan and address any questions or concerns you might have.
Appointment length can also change depending on how complex your condition is and the techniques your chiropractor uses. However, the following information should give you some general ideas on what to expect from your chiropractic appointments, and how much time to allocate for them.
The most common factors that affect the length of a chiropractic appointment are:
Your first appointment will take longer than normal so you should allocate at least 45 minutes to an hour for it.
During this appointment, you’ll usually:
Follow-up visits are generally much shorter – usually around 15 minutes.
If you’re dealing with a complicated issue, such as chronic back pain or spinal misalignment, the chiropractor may need more time to assess and treat your condition. In this case, your appointment could be a bit longer than normal.
Appointment length can also vary depending on the types of chiropractic techniques used. Some treatments, like spinal adjustments, are quick and take just a few minutes. Others, such as soft tissue therapy or rehabilitation exercises, often take more time.
Your chiropractor will monitor and assess your progress at each appointment. If your treatment plan needs to change, or you have concerns you want to discuss, these will add to the appointment time.
Most chiropractic adjustments are performed with the patient lying on their back, front, or side depending on the area being treated.
Manual adjustments involve the chiropractor using their hands to apply high-velocity, low-intensity thrusts to specific spinal joints to help correct misalignments. This simply means high speed, low force!
Alternatively, they may use a small instrument such as an activator adjusting tool to apply highly targeted, controlled force to a very specific spinal joint.
Either way, the aim of the adjustment is to improve spinal motion and neuromusculoskeletal function.
And don’t be surprised (or alarmed) if you hear some cracking or popping sounds – it’s just gas bubbles escaping between your joints as they get adjusted!
There is no ‘one size fits all’ answer to this because every patient is different. Some people start to feel better after just one session, whilst others take a few appointments to notice a change.
Similarly, some conditions respond very quickly to treatment but others require long-term treatment over several months or more. For instance, acute issues, like a recent injury, may resolve quite fast with just a few sessions while chronic conditions could take some time.
It’s all about finding what works best for you!
As to whether one session can make a difference – a 2019 study investigated the effect of a single chiropractic session on the strength of weak plantar flexor muscles in chronic stroke patients.
They found that the single session significantly increased strength compared to the control group. So, yes, one session can make a difference in SOME situations.
Chiropractic appointments can range from 10 minutes to an hour, depending on the complexity of your condition, the type of treatment you require, and whether it’s an initial consultation or a follow-up visit.
Understanding what to expect during your chiropractic appointment can help you better prepare and receive the full benefits of chiropractic care.
