A chiropractor is a medical professional that uses non-surgical treatments for their patients. Their treatment involves spinal adjustment, manipulation and mobility. Chiropractic care can assist with a variety of common spinal problems, including back pain, sciatica, and neck pain.
If you’re going to a chiropractor for the first time, you may find yourself feeling nervous before the appointment. It can be helpful to know what to expect from your first chiropractor visit to ease your nerves and help you get the most out of your initial consultation.
We’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to help put you at ease before your first chiropractor visit. Read on to learn everything about your upcoming chiropractor appointment.
Discuss Your Medical History
The first thing your chiropractor will do is chat to you about your medical history. You’ll discuss your symptoms and your treatment goals to make sure you’re on the same page.
Make sure to talk to your chiropractor about the following:
- Duration, intensity, and frequency of symptoms
- Areas of pain or discomfort
- Current or past medical conditions (diabetes, scoliosis, etc.)
- Family medical history
- Current or past injuries
- Medications use, including chronic medications and anything you use to manage pain
- Drug or alcohol use
- Your lifestyle habits (diet, stress levels, exercise, and sleep patterns)
- What eases your pain or discomfort
- What worsens your pain or discomfort
Your chiropractor might have asked you to fill in a “new patient” form before arriving. This helps to maximise your time together and ensures you don’t forget to mention anything important on the day of the appointment.
Perform a Physical Exam
Once your chiropractor is familiar with your medical history and you’ve discussed what you want to get out of your treatment, they’ll perform a physical exam. The purpose of the physical exam is to see how your body and joints move, assess your spine’s mobility, and identify spinal segments that will benefit from chiropractic treatment.
They may watch you walk across the room, feel your spine for any sensitive areas, and move your joints. They will perform assessments to compare the strength of your muscles, test your reflexes, explore your range of motion, and carry out palpation. Depending on your case, they may take X-rays and scans or recommend laboratory testing to confirm a diagnosis.
Create a Treatment Plan
Armed with the full picture of your medical history and physical state, your chiropractor can now start building your personal treatment plan. If you have enough time in your first visit and don’t require further testing, you may start treatment.
Each chiropractor uses their own combination of treatment methods. Here are some of the most common treatment methods, a brief explanation of how they work, and what you can expect during your first treatment.
Twist and Crack Technique
The “twist and crack” spinal adjustments are probably the treatment type you’ve seen or heard of the most. During this sort of adjustment, you’ll lie on a height-adjustable table. Your chiropractor will move the affected area (your neck or back) to its maximum range. They then use a gentle and firm thrust to adjust the area, which may make a crack or popping sound.
These old-school twisting and cracking adjustments work well for once-off issues, but they are often less effective when treating chronic conditions such as arthritis, vertigo, or disc herniations.
Chiropractic Drop Tables
Drop tables are specially designed for chiropractic work. Firstly, they have an adjustable height, allowing your chiropractor to comfortably have both hands on your spine during your session. Secondly, the table has many segments that the chiropractor can lift up and then drop as they thrust their hands into your spine. The drop allows gravity and momentum to do most of the work during your spinal adjustment.
The segments can be raised by one or two inches relative to the rest of your body. Your chiropractor will lift the section beneath the area of your spine that needs adjustment. They then fasten the segment in place and alter the stiffness of the table according to your body weight. When they apply gentle and sudden pressure to the area, the table releases the lifted segment and drops it down, bringing that section of the body down with it.
Drop tables allow your chiropractor to use less force on your spine. They facilitate gentler and slower movements that keep your body within its passive range of motion.
Posture and Performance Formula™
The Posture and Performance Formaula™ is our unique four-step chiropractic treatment approach that focuses on correcting posture to resolve spinal issues. The theory behind our approach is that stiffness, pain, and decreased mobility are often the result of compensations your body is making somewhere else.
Instead of applying direct force to push sections of your spine back into alignment, the Posture and Performance Formula™ tackles the root cause of the misalignment–poor posture. Correcting your posture allows the body to release any compensations and heal itself, which results in lasting pain relief and a body that functions optimally.
After Your First Chiropractor Visit
Your first visit is typically between 45 minutes and an hour long. Once your chiropractor has completed your first adjustment, they may give you exercises to perform at home. They may also provide nutrition and lifestyle advice that can assist with and aid your treatment.
If you need further adjustment and monitoring, they’ll schedule a follow-up visit. Depending on your case, you can see them 2-3 times a week for a few weeks. Your follow-up appointment will probably be shorter than this initial consultation, because your chiropractor will already know everything about you and your body.
You may feel slight tenderness in the areas that were adjusted, but you should never be in extreme pain. Talk to your chiropractor if you have discomfort or pain that continues or worsens over the next few days.
When choosing a chiropractor, it’s important to find one that listens to your feedback and treats you as an individual. You know your body better than any healthcare professional does, and you’ll know if a treatment style isn’t working for you.
Quality Chiropractic Care in London
Chiropractic care brings relief to many people suffering from discomfort and pain. When you’ve scheduled your first visit, you’re on your way to a healthier and more comfortable life.
If you’d like to experience the life-changing benefits of our Posture and Performance Formula, visit our chiropractor offices in London today. With our intentional treatment plans, researched treatment methods, and compassionate care, anyone can have a healthy and mobile spine. If you have any questions or would like to schedule your first chiropractor visit, contact us today at 020 8941 4410.
