So, you’ve scheduled your first appointment at the chiropractor. Now you may be wondering what will happen once you enter those office doors. Here’s a bit of information on what to expect at the chiropractor during your first visit.
The goal of chiropractic care is to address your health and wellness needs or concerns in a holistic manner. This is not just a place to go to “get your back cracked” every once in a while. Your chiropractic doctor’s main goal is to get to the root cause of your need for care, and to make sure your treatments are addressing the issues at hand.
Expect your first visit to the chiropractor to be your longest. During this visit, your chiropractic doctor will complete an evaluation to identify the cause of your pain.
First, you may be asked to fill out a questionnaire, similar to what you would submit at your first visit to any other health care provider.
They will ask you to review your past history, discuss any prior injuries, and recap what led you to seek treatment from a chiropractor. Expect these questions to be quite thorough; a chiropractor needs to understand your health status and lifestyle in order to provide complete treatment and advice in order to help you reach your goals.
Speaking of goals, you will be asked to discuss yours with your doctor during your first visit. Whether they be relief from pain, or a holistic approach to healthy living, they will want to hear what you’re working towards. This will become their goal, too.
After reviewing your medical history, the doctor will perform a physical exam. You may be asked to perform a series of stretches, or to simulate certain movements or walking patterns. This is the doctor’s way of seeing and feeling the issues you’ve previously discussed when reviewing your medical history. They may also be used to set a barometer for your progress; changes in movement or ability to stretch in a certain way may indicate improvement throughout your treatment.
In some cases, your chiropractor may send you for further examination. This could include MRIs, which will provide a closer look at the soft tissue between your bones in order to dive deeper into the root of your pain.
Once this exam has been completed, you may receive an adjustment if the doctor determines that chiropractic adjustments are the appropriate treatment for you. A plan will also be put in place to establish future treatments, whether they be routine visits for adjustment, exercises, lifestyle changes, or help from experts outside of the chiropractor’s office.
Ready to book your initial consultation and get started on the path towards wellness? Click here to book your appointment at Advanced Chiropractic & Wellness Center.
