FAQs: How Often Should I Visit a Chiropractor?

Whether you’ve only just started seeing a chiropractor, been seeing a Chiropractor for years, or are considering treatment for a recurring back issue, one of the most common questions is: “How often should I come in for chiropractic care?” While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, current evidence and guidelines can help you understand how treatment frequency is set, what typical schedules look like, and how you and your chiropractor can set an appropriate plan together.

NOTE FOR ALL: Always,always get an X-Ray and testing before you even start Chiropractic Care…if your Chiropractor doesn’t take X-Rays go to one who does.. If you are in the Halton, Peel, and Hamilton area the Life Lounge Chiropractic Health Centre should be your go to.

1. Why frequency matters — and what the research shows

Visits to a chiropractor (or other manual / musculoskeletal therapist) are not just arbitrarily scheduled — the frequency of visits matters because it impacts how pain, mobility, and function change over time. The aim is to relieve pain, restore mobility, improve function, and reduce the chance of recurrence — all of which benefit from the right number of visits at the right intervals.

Some key pieces of evidence:

The Canadian Chiropractic Guideline Initiative (CCGI) recommends that for non-specific low back pain (LBP) amenable to conservative care, manual therapy (such as spinal manipulative therapy) and exercise may be delivered 2-3 times per week for 6–8 weeks as an initial phase of care. ccgi+2ccgi+2
A 2024 article summarising those CCGI pathways gives precisely that: “Manual Therapy: Frequency 2-3 times per week for 6-8 weeks.” ccgi+1
A general-audience summary states there’s no universal standard for how often chiropractic adjustments should occur; the frequency depends on the condition’s severity, patient response and practitioner judgement. Medical News Today

So: The evidence supports a “front-loaded” schedule (multiple visits per week) for an initial treatment phase, followed by fewer visits as symptoms improve.

2. Suggested frequency phases (and why)

Here’s a simplified breakdown of how a typical chiropractic care schedule might evolve for someone in Burlington, Ontario — always subject to the individual’s condition, goals, and professional assessment.

Phase	Frequency	Purpose	Typical Duration*
Initial (pain relief / mobility restoration)	2-3 visits per week	Address acute pain, improve mobility, reduce inflammation/spasm, begin stabilizing the spine	Often 4-8 weeks depending on severity
Stabilization / function improvement	1-2 visits per week	Maintain gains, build strength/coordination, ensure improvements are sustained	Until functional goals are met (e.g., 8-12 weeks)
Maintenance / prevention	Once every few weeks to monthly (or “as needed”)	Prevent flare-ups, monitor progress, maintain alignment and mobility	Ongoing as lifestyle/health-goals dictate

*These are approximate and should be adapted based on individual response.

Why this progression makes sense:

Early on, frequent visits help exploit the “window” of maximal improvement and set proper biomechanics and control. The CCGI pathway specifically gives 2-3 ×/week for initial treatment of common LBP. ccgi+1
As improvement happens, the body stabilizes and fewer visits are needed. The general guidance from public-facing sources also echoes this “taper down” approach: after an acute phase, move to less frequent care. PostureWorks Chiropractic
For long-term wellness or recurrence prevention, visits become less regular, tailored to your lifestyle, activity levels, and risk factors.

3. What factors influence how often you should visit

When you and your local chiropractor (in Burlington / Halton region) decide on a visit schedule, these factors are usually considered:

Severity and duration of symptoms: Acute vs chronic (for example, the World Health Organization defines “chronic primary low back pain” as lasting more than 3 months). NCBI
Functional impact: How much your back pain is limiting your work, activity, sleep.
Response to treatment: Are things improving? If yes, the frequency may be reduced. If not, the plan may be revisited.
Underlying issues: Posture, ergonomics (especially relevant for office workers in Burlington commuting to Toronto/Hamilton), lifestyle, movement patterns.
Goals: Relief of acute pain? Return to sport? Long-term spinal health and prevention of re-injury?
Budget / insurance / access: While not purely clinical, these practical factors often influence scheduling in real-life Canadian settings.
Maintenance vs corrective care mindset: Some patients seek occasional visits for “wellness” or prevention; others are in a corrective mode where more frequent visits may be justified initially.

4. What the guidelines say (and what they don’t)

It’s important to ground expectations in what major guidelines support — and also recognise what they don’t.

What they say:

The 2023 WHO guideline for non-surgical management of chronic primary low back pain emphasises non-pharmacologic, non-invasive interventions including spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) among recommended options. PubMed+1
The CCGI guideline for the chiropractic treatment of acute & chronic LBP supports SMT (with exercise, advice) as part of multimodal conservative care. PubMed+1
Care pathways for LBP advise follow-up every 2-4 weeks once the intensive phase is completed to monitor, adjust and maintain the plan. ccgi+1

What they don’t specify:

None of the major guidelines prescribe an exact number of visits per week for every patient. The frequency must be tailored. For example, a general public article notes that “there is no universal standard for how often a chiropractic treatment should happen”. Medical News Today
There is limited high-certainty evidence about long-term “maintenance” visit frequency — i.e., how often someone should come after symptoms are resolved. A cautious approach is warranted.

5. Practical tips for patients in Burlington, Ontario

Ask your chiropractor for a “plan of care”: At your first visit (or soon after), ask how many visits are planned per week, for how many weeks, what goals are set, and when the plan will be reviewed.
Track your own progress: Are your symptoms decreasing? Is mobility improving? Is your function returning (work, hobbies, sleep)? Good progress means you may reduce frequency; lack of improvement means rethink the plan.
Be active between visits: Much of the benefit of chiropractic care comes when you follow advice, do prescribed exercises, adopt better posture, stay moving.
Be realistic about “maintenance” care: If you’re feeling well and want periodic check-ups, that’s fine — just ensure it’s patient-centred and based on need, not simply routine.
Review when progress stalls: If after 4–6 weeks you’ve made little or no improvement, ask the chiropractor how the plan changes — maybe you need a different strategy, referral, or a reduced/increased visit frequency.
Consider staying within the evidence-based zone: For a typical uncomplicated low back issue, a 2-3 visits/week initial phase for 4-8 weeks is consistent with guideline-based care. From there you can taper.

6. Summary: What you can expect

If you are seeing a chiropractor in Burlington for a typical low back or spine-related issue:

Initial phase: Multiple visits per week (often 2-3) for several weeks is common and supported by guideline-based pathways.
Middle phase: As improvement happens, the frequency drops to 1-2 times per week.
Maintenance phase: Once your condition stabilises, visits may become infrequent (once every few weeks or months) and tailored to your goals and risk of flare-up.

Always ensure your care is goal-oriented, reviewed regularly, rooted in evidence (such as SMT + exercise + advice), and flexible to change if your progress isn’t as expected.

7. Important caveats

This guidance is for conservative chiropractic/manual therapy care for typical low back/spine-muscle issues. It does not apply to serious structural pathologies, surgical cases, or conditions requiring specialist intervention.
Visit frequency should always be at the discretion of your chiropractor, based on your unique condition, and with appropriate reassessments.
The evidence for very long‐term “maintenance” visit frequency is less strong — so unlimited, high-frequency visits without clear rationale may not be justified.
If you feel you’re not improving after the expected initial phase, speak up and ask about reassessment, diagnostic updates, or alternative strategies.

8. References

World Health Organization. (2023). WHO guideline for non-surgical management of chronic primary low back pain in adults in primary and community care settings. Geneva: WHO. NCBI+1
Canadian Chiropractic Guideline Initiative (CCGI). (2018). Spinal Manipulative Therapy and Other Conservative Treatments for Low Back Pain: A Guideline From the CCGI. Journal of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics, 41(4), 265–293. PubMed+1
Canadian Chiropractic Guideline Initiative. (n.d.). Low Back Pain Care Pathway — Treatment Considerations. Retrieved from https://www.ccgi-research.com/lbp-care-pathway/treatmentconsiderations (accessed 2025). ccgi+1
Herman, P. M. et al. (2021). Visit frequency and outcomes for patients using ongoing chiropractic care. PMC, 8667562. PMC