Follow-up maintenance or well-care is usually recommended after a patient is discharged from active care in our offices. Most patients are unaware that chronic conditions may require months of monitoring afterward for the optimal result as their bodies learn how to move and function better over time. Adult adaptation can require months, while children can do this much faster. Active people benefit from proper spinal hygiene so they can play with their children or grandchildren without worrying if their body will handle it. Can your body handle spring or fall cleanup and recover quickly? Do you have the stamina to complete your next race, play softball while avoiding an injury such as a muscle pull? Taking care of your body can pay off for years to come. The Data: What Maintenance Care Really Does Patients who received Maintenance Care experienced 13 fewer days of pain over 12 months than those who only visited when symptoms recurred. Pain episodes decreased by 22% when patients adhered to a Maintenance Care schedule every 1-3 months. Consistent care led to significant reductions in disability, particularly for patients with a history of chronic pain who responded well to initial treatment. Chiropractors and patients agree: Maintenance Care is essential for preventing flare-ups and maintaining optimal function. Clinicians in the study emphasized the importance of regular visits, noting that spinal manipulation coupled with patient education, exercise, and lifestyle coaching delivered the best outcomes. Need further proof? A systematic review of 14 studies in the Journal of Chiropractic and Manual Therapies What happens during a well-care or maintenance visit? Patients are initially asked about their recent health history and how they feel. Then, a quick functional evaluation is performed to determine if any problems are developing. The doctor uses this information to treat any problems using myofascial release and spinal or extremity adjustments. If there is a more complicated problem developing, the doctor performs a more thorough evaluation and may recommend additional visits to resolve it before it becomes a more complicated problem. Often, the periodic visit can result in you feeling and functioning better, and then the doctor may suggest a follow-up in a month or two, depending on your body, history, and function. Need further proof? A systematic review of 14 studies in the Journal of Chiropractic and Manual Therapies showed the following: If you haven’t been in for a while, perhaps now is the time to take care of yourself so you can properly take care of everyone else. Book online now.