Have you been planning to consult a chiropractor? Many people aren’t sure as to exactly what chiropractors do and what to expect from their first visit, so here is a summary of what you can expect from your very first Chiropractor’s visit. For the very first session, there are three main goals to be achieved.

Identify Pain Point (s)

More often than not, many patients make their first trip to the chiropractor either because they have felt a new unfamiliar pain in recent days, or that an old problem has deteriorated or resurfaced. Therefore, the first aim would be to identify the cause of the problem, so that a treatment plan can be worked out. To weed out the source of the problem, a thorough chiropractic exam would be carried out. This includes general tests, such as pulse, blood pressure, reflexes, and respiration. Neurological and orthopaedic tests may also be carried out so as to assess the range of motion of the affected area. Depending on your pain point, further tests may be required, such as requesting the patient to move in a specific manner, or analysis of the patient’s sitting and standing posture.

Diagnosis of the Problem

Then, diagnostic tests are sometimes carried out to reveal pathologies and identify potential structural abnormalities in order to more accurately understand a condition. You may have heard that X-ray scans are usually carried out, but that is not always the case. In general, the purposes of a X-Ray scan is to diagnose a recent trauma, spondylarthritis, or to assess a spinal deformity such as scoliosis. X-Ray scans are usually only used when medically necessary.

While X-Ray scans help to view the bones, it doesn’t help in studying soft tissues. When soft tissue damage is suspected, it is likely that a MRI scan would be recommended. Usually, such extensive imaging studies would be referred to an outside center. The sole purpose of all these tests is to have an accurate diagnosis of the problem.

Follow Up Treatment

The initial tests and findings would help the chiropractor to arrive at a specific diagnosis. After there is a diagnosis established, the chiropractor will then determine whether the condition can be treated by chiropractic care. After all, certain conditions such as fractures, infections and tumours will require the treatment of a specialist physician. At this point, the chiropractor would then explain to the patient about the diagnosed condition, the expected duration of chiropractic care, and what to expect during treatment. Patients would then usually go back to do more of their own research about the condition and then decide on further chiropractic care. One important thing to note is that things are not magically cured after the chiropractic consult- you should be responsible and ensure that you do consciously practise self-care before your next appointment.

What to Consider Before Visiting a Chiropractor

Before choosing a chiropractor, many people usually want to first talk to the chiropractor either by way of phone or email. This is essential for patients to understand the chiropractor’s expertise and approach. If you are planning your first visit to the chiropractor, we would be more than happy to help. Here at RejuvenX, a team of highly trained professionals are able to guide you to the next steps ahead in your treatment journey. Contact us to find out more now!