The benefits of Phase 2.
At OptiStart Chiropractic we talk about your Chiropractic journey in terms of “phases of care.”
Everyone naturally falls into a particular phase depending on the results of the analysis of their spine for vertebral subluxation .
A reminder of the three phases:
- In phase 1 we need to correct OLD subluxation patterns that have been in the body for a certain period of time.
- In phase 2 we need to check to see if your OLD subluxations remains corrected, and if they relapse, re-correct them.
- In phase 3 we are looking to detect and correct NEW subluxations as they arise.
What are the benefits of phase 2 care?
Phase 2 care has several potential benefits. For example:
- Preventing levels of pain worsening or coming back.
If we wait too long between visits we risk the pain, symptom, or condition returning. This is because the area of concern in the spine is not fully healed and stabilized. With continued life stressors, and low resistance factors, the old subluxation that was in the body can relapse, thus creating dysfunction, and gradually leading to a return in symptoms. Essentially, we need to return to phase 1.
- Fully clearing the patterns so that we can remain well.
By returning for check-ups periodically at the right frequency, we detect mild pattern relapse, re-correct, and allow ligaments around joints to heal, thus creating a situation where the joint system remains in normal function.
Studies show varying time for healing of ligaments. For example studies have shown a healing time for ankle ligaments to be 6 weeks to 3 months (1).
Ligaments are the structure’s contributing to spinal stability – Sub failure of spinal ligament’s affecting nerve function, and control of local muscles is an important evidence based theory of back pain (2).
In Chiropractic, we call this return to normal joint movement a “holding pattern” – it’s a bit like the “bone holds in place. ”
(p.s. – the science is a bit more complicated than that, but let’s keep it simple.)
Over phase 2, the old subluxation patterns start to “hold,” – remaining in normal function, and we become clear and functioning well.
- Ultimately, the old patterns clear.
Once the old patterns clear, we can enter into phase 3 Chiropractic – the analysis and correction of NEW subluxation patterns as they arise.
We get to experience the benefits of either optimizing or maintenance care!
References
- Tricia J. Hubbard, Charlie A. Hicks-Little; Ankle Ligament Healing After an Acute Ankle Sprain: An Evidence-Based Approach. J Athl Train 1 September 2008; 43 (5): 523–529. doi:
- Panjabi, M.M. A hypothesis of chronic back pain: ligament subfailure injuries lead to muscle control dysfunction. Eur Spine J 15, 668–676 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-005-0925-3
