There are hundreds of chiropractic techniques out there. Some claim to fix serious problems in a single visit. Some chiropractic techniques have treatment programs that take several years...and everything in between. It can be very confusing for the consumer...and that's an understatement.
I have personally benefited from both long term corrective type care and short term relief care. I have never tried the one visit method...somehow this does not seem possible...but there are patients that swear it has worked for them.
I have focused primarily on tailor-made treatment programs based on individual needs. Sometimes this is very short term treatment...just a few visits...and sometimes it's longer term...a few months.
There is no cook book answer...everyone is different. A patient that was involved in a car accident certainly needs more chiropractic adjustments than a patient that slept funny.
A patient with a herniated disc in the neck will require more adjustments than a patient with a sprain.
I would consider your age, your over-all level of physical conditioning and health, whether or not there are multiple areas of involvement (eg: neck, mid back, low back), and if the problem is new or chronic.
Managing chiropractic treatment programs is an art. I also learn from my experience helping previous patients with similar conditions.
I also modify the treatment as a patient improves...or not. Yes, chiropractic has a fantastic success rate, as well as patient satisfaction rate...but some people do not respond. We have to decide when chiropractic is not working. We refer out at this point for a second opinion.
Anyway...how many visits you need depends on many factors...but in the end, it's up to you to decide how you wish to use chiropractic. It's not an all or none treatment. Typically, you will benefit from whatever you do...even if it's only one or two sessions.
Personally, I use chiropractic adjustments as a component of an over-all health program which includes exercise, plant based nutrition, plenty of rest, good ergonomics, and lots of water.
The more attention you put on these other components of health, the less you have to lean on chiropractic. But if need be....chiropractic can pull a heavy load for you...naturally!
