What To Expect At A Chiropractor's Appointment
Posted on: 9 August 2017
If you have never been to see a chiropractor before, you may be a little nervous about what to expect. Fortunately, most chiropractors are used to this nervousness in first time patients, and they are quite skilled at putting you at ease. The following guide can help prepare you for what to expect at your appointment.
The interview
Your first appointment will likely involve little to no treatment. This is because the chiropractor needs to interview you to determine the most likely causes of your pain or discomfort. They will go over your medical history and any past pain treatments.
During the interview, you will need to describe the pain, its location, and when it started. You must also provide information on anything that seems to make it worse or that alleviates it. Keeping a pain journal in the days or weeks leading up to the appointment can help.
Clinical exam
The clinical exam is often done at the same appointment as the interview. This exam will feel much like any medical visit — you will have your blood pressure, pulse, and muscle strength tested and measured. You will also likely have to be weighed and measured.
This is followed by the chiropractic section of the clinical exam. The doctor will first have you hold your body in certain positions so they can assess your posture. They may also ask you to go through a series of simple movements, once again to assess posture as well as movements that lead to pain. They may also order x-rays or MRIs.
Treatment plan
The final part of the first visit is usually the treatment plan. This is typically done via a holistic approach, which means the treatment will include chiropractic adjustments, at-home exercises, and pain treatments prescribed by your usual doctor. You will be shown some exercises to do at home, and then you will set up your first adjustment appointment.
At the adjustment, the chiropractor will begin the full treatment plan. This usually involves the doctor moving your body through a variety of positions to help align your muscular and skeletal systems. Each treatment visit that follows will consist of a discussion of your current pain, adjustment of the treatment plan to meet your recovery needs, and then the adjustment. You will then be provided with instruction for any at-home pain management that you need to practice.
For more help, contact a chiropractor's office in your area.
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