Non-specific low back pain is one of the most common and costly healthcare problems in the world.
After your pain improves, many chiropractors recommend simple strategies to reduce the chance that the problem will return. These may include exercise, stretching, better posture, foot support, and periodic chiropractic visits — often once a month or every four to six weeks.
Researchers believe that ongoing maintenance care may help correct small problems before they become painful again.
Studies published in 2004 and 2011 found that patients with chronic low back pain who received maintenance care for nine months had less pain and disability than those who did not.
A 2018 study involving 328 patients found that people who continued maintenance care had 12.8 fewer days of low back pain over the following year.
Interestingly, those patients only needed an average of 1.7 more visits during the study than patients who only came back when the pain returned.
The researchers concluded that for selected patients with recurring low back pain who respond well to chiropractic care, maintenance care should be considered as a way to help prevent future problems.
