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What can I expect on my first Chiropractic visit?
 Patients
typically visit a chiropractor for the first time through
a personal reference or a referral of another health care
specialist. At the first visit, you can expect the chiropractor
to complete a thorough chiropractic consultation and includes:
Patient
History
Chiropractic Physical
Examination
Diagnostic Studies
(when indicated)
Diagnosis
Chiropractic Treatment
Plan
Patient History
In preparation for your consultation with the chiropractor,
you will be asked to fill out forms that provide background
information about your symptoms and condition. Types of
questions the chiropractor might ask include:
You will also usually be asked to provide the chiropractor
with information on family medical history, any pre-existing
medical conditions or prior injuries, and previous and
current health providers and treatments.
Chiropractic Physical Examination
Once the history has been completed, your chiropractor will
perform a thorough chiropractic examination. In addition
to general tests such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration,
and reflexes, the chiropractic examination will include
specific orthopedic and neurological tests to assess:
Based on the above chiropractic examination procedures,
further chiropractic tests may be necessary to arrive at
the assessment or diagnosis of the affected area (such as
moving your leg in a specified manner, posture analysis,
or the chiropractor manipulating your arm or leg).
Diagnostic Studies
Diagnostic studies are helpful for chiropractors in revealing
pathologies and identifying structural abnormalities that
more accurately diagnose a condition. They may or may not
be deemed necessary by the chiropractor based upon the results
of the history and chiropractic examination.
The most common diagnostic studies used by chiropractors
include:
Many chiropractic offices can do basic x-rays, but an MRI
scan and more extensive images may be referred to an outside
center for which an appointment is needed.
Diagnosis
The culmination of the history, examination and diagnostic
studies is a specific diagnosis. Once the diagnosis is established,
the chiropractor will determine if the condition will respond
to chiropractic care.
The chiropractor will explain:
Chiropractic Treatment Plan
Most chiropractors begin treatment during the patient's first
chiropractic visit, although some may wait until the next
appointment. Chiropractic treatment recommendations may include
some or all of the following:
- Adjustments to key joint dysfunctions
- Modalities to improve soft tissue healing and pain control
(ultrasound, electrical stimulation and traction)
- Exercises to improve muscles balance, strength, and coordination
- Patient education to improve posture and motor control
Other treatments may be included, such as massage, heat/cold
application, and nutrition education. Importantly, at this
point the chiropractor will establish specific goals for your
chiropractic treatment plan.
- Short term goals for chiropractic treatment – to
reduce pain and restore normal joint function and muscle
balance
- Long term goals for chiropractic treatment – to restore
functional independence and tolerance to normal activities
of daily living
To reach these goals, the chiropractor will prescribe a specific
number of chiropractic visits. An example would be 1 to 3
chiropractic visits per week for 2 to 4 weeks followed by
a re-examination by the chiropractor.
At the re-examination, the chiropractor will measure the
response to treatment and determine whether to:
- Continue chiropractic treatment if appropriate;
- Release you from chiropractic care if your goals have
been met; or Refer you to another health care specialist
if your goals have not been fulfilled.
Article reprinted from Spine
Health
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