How Frequently Should You Get Chiropractic Adjustments?
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By Butler Family Health Center · Published 2026-10-16 · Last updated 2026-10-16
Chiropractors often suggest 2 or 3 short visits a week at the start, about once a week as you improve, and then visits spaced further apart once pain settles. How frequently you should get chiropractic adjustments after that depends on what your exam finds, how long the problem has been there, your age and how your body responds.
At Butler Family Health Center, a chiropractor in Centennial in Peakview Center on S Quebec Street near I-25, Dr. Butler sets your schedule after an exam.
How Frequently You Should Get Chiropractic Adjustments at the Start of Care
You should expect chiropractic adjustments 2 or 3 times a week at the start of care, for a limited stretch. MedlinePlus, the health site of the National Library of Medicine, says chiropractors may suggest "2 or 3 short sessions a week at first," and that treatments may drop to once a week once you improve. It adds that more than one session is usually needed and that treatment generally lasts several weeks.
Pain is usually at its highest early on, and closer spacing makes it easier to see what changes from one visit to the next. We offer same-day appointments and take walk-ins, so you won't wait a week for an opening.
How Long Does One Chiropractic Visit Take in Centennial?
One chiropractic visit usually takes about 10 to 20 minutes once care is underway. The first visit runs longer: MedlinePlus puts it at 30 to 60 minutes, with a health history and a physical exam, and says treatment often starts at the first or second visit.
A Typical Chiropractic Visit Schedule From First Exam to Upkeep
A typical chiropractic schedule moves through three stages, with fewer visits at each one. The first two rows below are general guidance from MedlinePlus. The upkeep row is a general description with no fixed interval. Your own schedule is set after your exam.
| Stage | Typical rhythm | What it aims for |
|---|---|---|
| Starting care | 2 or 3 short visits a week | Calm the pain and learn how you respond |
| Improving | About once a week | Keep the progress while visits drop |
| Upkeep (maintenance) | Spaced further apart | Hold the gains you made |
Where to start, by situation:
- If your neck stiffens by mid-afternoon at a Denver Tech Center desk, then book an exam with Dr. Butler and ask for a plan built around short visits that fit your workday.
- If you were rear-ended on I-25 or Arapahoe Road, then book an exam soon. We accept auto accident and personal injury cases.
- If you have been a patient for years and feel good, then ask us about maintenance or wellness care rather than a new intensive plan.
Is a Weekly Chiropractic Visit Too Much for Someone in Centennial?
A weekly chiropractic visit is about right for someone in Centennial who is past the first weeks of care and still improving. MedlinePlus describes once a week as the usual step down after the early phase. Weekly care isn't meant to run forever, though. Once pain stays low between visits, a re-check of how you move should decide when to space visits out.
What Research Says About the Best Number of Chiropractic Visits
Research does not name one best number of chiropractic visits for everyone. A scoping review of 32 studies concluded that "it was not possible to determine optimal dosages and frequencies," and only 2 of the 6 trials on visit frequency had a low risk of bias.
One randomized dose trial followed 400 adults with chronic low back pain who received 0, 6, 12 or 18 spinal manipulation sessions, all within 18 visits over 6 weeks. At 12 weeks, 12 sessions gave the most favorable short-term results, about 8.6 points better than the control group on a 0 to 100 pain scale. The authors said that difference was too small to clearly separate 12 sessions from the doses on either side. The added benefit was modest at 12 weeks and negligible at 24 weeks, and no notable adverse events were reported.
The NIH's National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) reports a modest improvement in acute low back pain with spinal manipulation, and short-term relief for chronic low back pain similar to other recommended therapies. It gives no set frequency and suggests asking your chiropractor how many sessions you will need.
Can Too Many Chiropractic Visits Cause Problems in Centennial?
Too many chiropractic visits mainly add time without adding relief. In the dose trial, sessions beyond 12 did not clearly improve results. When a re-check shows you are no longer changing between visits, that is the signal to space them out.
How Often to Schedule Maintenance Chiropractic Visits Once Pain Eases
Maintenance chiropractic visits are spaced well apart once pain eases. The right gap is the one that keeps you feeling the way you did at the end of active care.
Butler Family Health Center offers maintenance, preventative and corrective chiropractic care, plus chiropractic wellness plans.
Your activity level shapes the gap. A Castlewood resident who walks the High Line Canal Trail most mornings may book a visit when stiffness starts to shorten those walks.
Do Centennial Chiropractic Patients End Up Needing Visits Forever?
Centennial chiropractic patients do not need visits forever. Maintenance care is a choice you make about how you want to feel. The NCCIH describes the relief from spinal manipulation as modest and short term, which is why some people choose regular upkeep and others come in only when a problem returns. As Mike S. wrote, "I have been coming to Dr Butler for 20 years and I would never go anywhere else."
What Changes Your Chiropractic Visit Schedule in Centennial
Your chiropractic visit schedule in Centennial changes with a handful of factors, and most of them come from daily life. Centennial, in Arapahoe County, had 108,418 residents in the 2020 census, and I-25 divides the city roughly in half. The Denver Tech Center counted more than 35,000 workers in 2023. Long drives and long hours at a desk are part of many weeks here.
Factors that tend to change how often you come in:
- How severe the pain is, and whether it is new or long-standing
- Your age (Dr. Butler treats newborns to seniors)
- Desk hours and commute time
- Activity level, from weekend games at DeKoevend Park to runs on the High Line Canal Trail
- A recent injury, such as a car crash or a sports injury
- How quickly you respond to the first few visits
Does Insurance Cover a Chiropractic Care Plan in Centennial?
Insurance coverage for a chiropractic care plan in Centennial depends on your plan. We are a preferred provider for Anthem, Blue Cross, Aetna, Cofinity, Humana, Cigna, United Healthcare and others. We also offer cash plans for patients without insurance or with high deductibles, and we accept HSA debit cards.
For Medicare patients, Part B covers spinal adjustments by a chiropractor to correct a subluxation. After the Part B deductible, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount. Medicare does not cover X-rays, massage therapy or acupuncture ordered by a chiropractor.
When Soreness After an Adjustment Means You Should See a Doctor
Mild soreness that fades quickly is normal after an adjustment. Weakness, numbness or worsening pain means you should see a doctor. MedlinePlus says some people feel "a little achy, stiff, and tired for a few days" and that "You should not feel any pain from the manipulation." The NCCIH says side effects usually resolve within a day and serious problems are very rare.
Cleveland Clinic advises that if you notice weakness, numbness or worsening pain after an adjustment, you should "contact your healthcare provider immediately for an evaluation." Rare serious complications include herniated disks, cauda equina syndrome and stroke. If a symptom is sudden and severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Who Should Not Have Spinal Manipulation?
People should not have spinal manipulation on body parts affected by bone fractures or tumors, severe arthritis, bone or joint infections, or severe osteoporosis, according to MedlinePlus. The same goes for severely pinched nerves with numbness, tingling and weakness in the arms or legs, and for acute neck pain with pinched nerve symptoms. Neck manipulation "may damage blood vessels or cause strokes," though this is very rare, and the first visit screens for high risk.
Why Centennial Patients Plan Their Visits With Butler Family Health Center
When you plan your visits with Butler Family Health Center, one doctor reviews your exam and sets your schedule with you. Dr. Chris Butler, D.C., earned his degree at Cleveland Chiropractic College and has been a chiropractor since 1996. Here is what you get:
- A schedule built from your own chiropractic examination
- Same-day appointments and walk-ins
- Care for newborns to seniors in one office
- Maintenance and wellness plans once pain eases
- Preferred provider for most major insurers, and cash plans for high deductibles
- 4.9 stars on Google from more than 70 reviews
Melanie H. wrote, "From the very beginning, I felt listened to, cared for, and never rushed." The office sits in Peakview Center near I-25, a short drive from the Denver Tech Center.
The Bottom Line
Most people start with 2 or 3 short chiropractic visits a week, move to about once a week as they improve, and then space visits further apart. Research cannot name one best number, so your schedule should come from an exam and be reviewed as you go. If you want a chiropractor in Centennial who builds a plan around your body and your week, call or text Dr. Butler's office at (303) 741-2444 to book your exam. Same-day appointments and walk-ins are welcome.