What to Expect at the First Chiropractic Visit

Chiropractors can adjust your spine and other joints to relieve pain and improve function. Chiropractors call this manipulation or adjustment. But chiropractic care includes more than spinal adjustments and chiropractic care can also include exercises, soft tissue therapy, and passive modalities.

As with any other doctor visit, the first visit starts with your medical history and a physical exam.

You can expect to be in the office for your first visit for 45 minutes to an hour depending on how complicated your complaint is. Your chiropractor will ask about your medical history and your symptoms. Tell your chiropractor about: 

• When and how did the pain start?

• Where is the pain felt?

• Describe the pain—is it sharp, dull, searing/burning, or throbbing? Does it come and go, or is it constant?

• What activities/circumstances make it better or worse?

• Any past injuries and medical issues.

• Any medications you take

• Your lifestyle habits including exercise, diet, stress, and sleep

Afterward the physical examination will take place. 

Specific orthopedic and neurological tests may also be used to assess the:

• Range of motion

• Muscle tone and strength

• Neurological integrity

Further tests may be necessary to assess the injured area, such as having the patient move in a specific manner, posture analysis, or evaluate the motion of the affected body part.

Last but not least your Chiropractor will determine if X-Rays are needed to reveal any bony abnormalities such as fracture, spondylolisthesis, and alignment issues.