How Long Is Too Long Between Your Chiropractic or Osteopathy Appointments?

There are two types of patients that my team and I often see in the clinic. The first actively (and sometimes blindly) listens to the advice of their chiropractor or osteopath and routinely books their next appointment immediately after the current one. The second books an appointment only when they think they need one. This blog addresses both groups, discussing the pros and cons of each approach.

The "as & when" patients

Let me start with the latter group, the "as & when" patients (FYI, that's how we refer to them in practice). You may instinctively think I would criticise this group of patients because, as a business owner, it is better for the business to have patients routinely scheduled in the diary for financial certainty. However, I want our patients to understand that neither I nor the other managers put any pressure on the practitioners regarding finances. Many clinics around Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, and Middlesex do, and those are the ones we frown upon. The only emphasis we encourage is doing what is right for the patient, irrespective of whether the patient knows or fully understands what that is (often we provide a lot of information, and it's difficult to retain it all).

That said, some patients are remarkably aware of their bodies' functions - when they feel stiff or sore. These patients exemplify those who can and should adopt an "as & when" approach; they book an appointment immediately when they feel something isn't right. I have often found that these patients have a greater variety of daily activities (both work and play). For example, take Alex, who has a sedentary job but frequently engages in intense exercise - one week he may work out six days, while the next he barely moves from his desk. If he feels stiff or sore, he never leaves it too long before booking an appointment online. Or consider Jodie, a stay-at-home mum who works as a part-time personal trainer. She can instantly tell if she has done something to irritate her back or cause dizziness; she'll call immediately to get an appointment booked. In reality, I expect about 10-20% of our patient base to fit into this category.

If you, as a patient, are adopting this approach because you believe your practitioner is encouraging you to return sooner than you think necessary, I encourage you to have a conversation with them about their reasoning. I can assure you that the practitioners at b2 Clinics are not focused on your money; they are considering what timeframe is best for you based on their experience with you and your issues.

The "routine appointments" patients

Now, let me discuss the "routine appointments" patients. Every patient is completely different - lifestyle, work, activities, etc. However, complaints, pains, and niggles can be very similar in nature. Your practitioner will weigh up the combination of your individual circumstances and the complaints you often suffer from. This assessment will guide their decision on how long you should have between appointments to maintain your body's full function without pain. As a typical rule of thumb, this interval often falls between three to six months; however, some patients may have maintenance appointments every four weeks, while others may only need them once a year (we often supplement this timeframe with occasional sports massages). As a patient, you'll know immediately when your muscle spasms yea?! This will be the final stage of a problem being present. But leading up to that point the joints will have been "stiff" or "restricted", this is more difficult to recognise, or even prioritise. This is the bit that routine maintenance appointments aims to remedy, which reduces the risk of "pain" significantly. 

Now, if I may touch on finances and pain for a moment. Routine maintenance appointments make significant financial sense - £55 every three months (on average), which is just 60p per day, to protect your body. In contrast, the "as & when" approach often results in patients delaying their follow-up appointments to the extent that they experience neck or back spasms, necessitating three or even four appointments within a two- to three-week window. Financially, it makes more sense for you as a patient to have routine appointments. Additionally, being in pain and having to treat you while you're in pain is not enjoyable for anyone involved.

In summary, if you haven't seen your chiropractor or osteopath in six months, much like visiting your dentist, then, truth be told, you're probably overdue. I simply want to help you reduce the risk of you experiencing an episode of back or neck pain.

If you need a routine maintenance appointment or if you are experiencing pain that needs to be looked at, book an appointment with one of our practitioners here. We would love to help you!