Maintenance

Imagine a police officer in his mid-30s—let’s call him Luke—sitting in my waiting room, flipping through a folder of research articles. He’s there for his regular adjustment, nose buried in a study when the door swings open to call him back. Luke looks up with a grin and says, “You know, I read these research articles because I like them, but my biggest proof is me and my twin brother. We both had back pain for years, popping pills to get by. Since I started coming here, I’m back at work, hitting the gym, feeling good—my mood’s even lifted. I don’t hesitate chasing down a suspect anymore. My twin? He won’t get adjusted. He’s still stuck, miserable with the same pain.” That’s chiropractic maintenance in action—not just a quick fix, but a way to keep moving strong.

Low back pain has a way of creeping back if you let it. Maybe you’ve felt that familiar twinge after sitting too long or lifting something heavy. You’re not alone—plenty of folks in Cranston, RI, know that ache. But here’s the thing: research shows chiropractic maintenance can cut those bothersome days down. A 2018 study tracked people with recurring low back pain. Those who kept up with regular adjustments—about every few weeks—had 12.8 fewer days of trouble over a year compared to those who only showed up when the pain hit hard. That’s over two weeks of feeling better, all from a couple extra visits to the chiropractor.

Another study from 2011 backs this up. People with chronic low back pain who stayed on a maintenance schedule moved easier and stayed that way longer than those who didn’t. The difference wasn’t small—those regular tweaks kept the pain from digging in deep. Think of it like tending a garden. Skip the weeding, and the mess grows wild. Pull a few weeds every month, and the ground stays clear. Your spine works the same way—keep it aligned, and the trouble doesn’t pile up.

Ever wonder why that matters? A 2011 review spelled it out: when your spine sits still too long, things start breaking down—joints stiffen, muscles weaken, nerves get cranky. That can kick in after just two to four weeks. The fix? Adjustments every couple of weeks to keep everything loose and firing right. That timing lines up with what patients say works best, too. It’s not random—it’s your body telling you what it needs to stay on track.

Take Luke. He didn’t start with maintenance in mind—he just wanted the pain gone. But after a while, he noticed the difference sticking with it made. He’s not the only one. While my focus is on short-term care for back pain, about a quarter of my patients come in for upkeep, trusting it keeps them steady—research backs that up too. Even the ones dropping by now and then for a quick fix are choosing a natural way over pills. That’s a win either way—your body gets to call the shots.

Hippocrates once said health is like a balanced scale. Tip it too far with neglect, and you feel it. Regular adjustments keep that scale steady, especially for low back pain that loves to linger. Studies prove it, Luke lives it, and you can test it. Next time that ache starts whispering, or even before it does, think about this: a little maintenance might go a long way to keep you moving, working, and living the way you want.

References:
Eklund A, Jensen I, Lohela-Karlsson M, Hagberg J, Leboeuf-Yde C, Kongsted A, Bodin L, Axén I. The Nordic Maintenance Care program: Effectiveness of chiropractic maintenance care versus symptom-guided treatment for recurrent and persistent low back pain-A pragmatic randomized controlled trial. PLoS One. 2018 Sep 12;13(9):e0203029. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203029. PMID: 30208070; PMCID: PMC6135505. Link

Taylor DN. A theoretical basis for maintenance spinal manipulative therapy for the chiropractic profession. J Chiropr Humanit. 2011 Dec;18(1):74-85. doi: 10.1016/j.echu.2011.07.001. Epub 2011 Dec 6. PMID: 22693482; PMCID: PMC3342827. Link 1 Link 2

Senna MK, Machaly SA. Does maintained spinal manipulation therapy for chronic nonspecific low back pain result in better long-term outcome? Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2011 Aug 15;36(18):1427-37. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181f5dfe0. PMID: 21245790. Link