There are many people who are under the impression that once you begin chiropractic treatment you have to keep going – almost like something bad is going to happen to you if you stop your care.
I understand how some people would come to think that chiropractic care could be addictive, after all, almost all medications that people get from their medical doctors for pain is addictive. I suppose that if you are in pain, are concerned about the addictive nature of the medications that you have taken in the past, and are going to the chiropractic for the first time, you may think that chiropractic care for pain may be addictive as well.
I can assure you that chiropractic care is not addictive but feeling good can be as powerful as an addiction. There are certain people that are more “in tune” with their bodies than others. Restrictions in joint motion and flexibility typically occur slowly over time and are not normally perceptible. Once these people start care they experience full, free range of motion of their joints – and they like it! After initial intensive care ends, a percentage of these people notice when their joints begin to lose their range of motion. Since they felt better under chiropractic treatment, they like to continue their care simply to feel better. This is about as addictive as chiropractic care can be. It is really no different from those who exercise begin to feel better and therefore continue with their exercise plan.
In summary, you can receive chiropractic care with no fear of developing a physical or physiological dependency on the treatment. Most chiropractors, myself included, know that chiropractic care is of great benefit to the health of your spine. Keeping your spine well adjusted is akin to keeping your teeth brushed and flossed – but it is not addictive.
[Adapted from an article by Dr. Steven R. Jones from San Diego Chiropractic]