Things to Know Before Your First Chiropractic Care Visit

Preparing for your first chiropractic care visit can be unnerving. While you should feel comforted knowing you’ll be working with a trained medical professional, some people may still have a lot of questions and uncertainties lingering in their minds before their first appointment. What does a chiropractic adjustment feel like? How much do chiropractors charge? What should I wear for the appointment? Knowing the answers to these questions before your first visit can help put you at ease and optimize your chiropractic care treatment.

To help you prepare for your first trip to a chiropractor’s office, we’re reviewing some of the top things you should know before your first visit. We’re taking a closer look at some helpful tips to prepare you for this type of care, allow you to relax, and enable you to focus on what matters most: recovering from your injuries and returning to your active and healthy lifestyle.

WHAT IS CHIROPRACTIC CARE?

If you’ve never visited a chiropractor before, you may just think that they’re the doctors who can crack your back for you. Well, this isn’t exactly the entire story. Chiropractic care, in fact, refers to a hands-on approach to healthcare that can treat a variety of ailments and injuries.

Professional chiropractors use spinal manipulation and chiropractic adjustments to realign the spine and restore your body’s proper musculoskeletal structure. Through this type of treatment, patients can experience quite a few benefits, including relief from chronic pain, better mobility and improved range of motion, and even improved sleep. Without a significant spinal trauma, it’s the imbalances that will cause your posture problem, help for bad posture consistently will have a positive effect.

Regular chiropractic care can also improve athletic performance and help to prevent future injuries, which is essential if you wish to continue enjoying an active and healthy lifestyle. Even if you haven’t suffered a serious back or neck injury, chiropractic care can improve your health and overall wellbeing.

WHAT CAN CHIROPRACTIC CARE TREAT?

As previously noted, chiropractic care can do so much more than relieve back pain. While, yes, this is a core aspect of effective chiropractic care, this type of treatment is ideal for responding to various ailments and injuries—some of which may even surprise you.

So, what health conditions can a chiropractor effectively treat?

• Back pain.
• Neck pain.
• Joint pain and stiffness.
• Limited range of motion in your joints.
• Headaches and migraines.
• Sciatica pain.
• Shoulder and knee pain.
• Herniated discs.
• Myofascial pain.
• Pregnancy-related pain.

TIPS FOR YOUR FIRST VISIT TO A CHIROPRACTOR

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when preparing for your first chiropractic visit:

1. Show up early: like any other healthcare office, a chiropractor’s staff will ask you to fill out some preliminary paperwork. This may include forms concerning your personal information, medical history, insurance information, and contact information. Try to arrive at your first appointment about 15 to 20 minutes early so you can knock out all this paperwork and begin your treatment as scheduled.
2. Wear comfortable clothing: comfort is key on all levels when it comes to receiving effective chiropractic care. To make your first visit (and all your consecutive visits) as comfortable as possible, you need to wear the right clothing. Avoid tight or restrictive clothing, such as jeans, dresses, or dress shirts. Rather, opt for clothing you might wear to the gym. Shorts, sweatpants, and a loose-fitting t-shirt works well for most chiropractic patients.
3. Open communication: for the best results, it’s helpful to be as communicative as you can with your chiropractic staff and doctor. Let them know how you’re feeling in as much detail as possible so they can accurately assess your condition. This allows your chiropractor to develop the most effective treatment plan. Also be sure to inform them of any serious prior injuries, any medications you take, or if you’ve received chiropractic care before. When it comes to receiving the best chiropractic care, the more you share, the better your results.
4. Relax: it’s natural to be tense and nervous in a doctor’s office. But in reality, you have nothing to worry about. Stress and anxiety can actually inhibit some of the benefits of chiropractic care, which makes this last point even more important. Remember, everyone at your chiropractor’s office has one primary goal in mind: your recovery and wellness. Remembering this can help put you at ease.

WHAT DOES YOUR FIRST CHIROPRACTIC VISIT LOOK LIKE?

What exactly should you expect on your very first visit to a chiropractor? Well, similar to other healthcare visits, you usually begin with paperwork and intake forms. This is never fun, but it’s important for the office to receive essential information about your health to better design a personalized care plan for you. In some cases, you can complete some of this initial information with a phone call.

Next, you’ll move on to a physical exam. Much like visiting your primary care physician, this step allows your doctor to assess your general physical condition. This may include checking your height, weight, blood pressure, and reflexes. You’ll then transition to the primary focus of your visit—your chiropractic adjustments and spinal manipulation. The exact techniques will depend on your specific needs, but generally include hands-on treatment as you lie down on a table and allow the chiropractor to treat your injuries.

CONCLUSION – THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOUR FIRST CHIROPRACTIC CARE VISIT

If you’re feeling nervous before your first chiropractic care visit—don’t be. These trained medical professionals are there to focus on your health and wellness and are committed to ensuring you have a quick and safe recovery. A visit to a chiropractor’s office is similar to any other type of doctor’s appointment. Your first visit will usually include an intake process, preliminary physical examination, and chiropractic adjustments.

To prepare for your first visit, there are a few things you can do. Arrive early, wear comfortable clothing, and don’t hesitate to speak openly with the staff or doctor so that everyone is on the same page. These healthcare professionals are there to listen and they value your input in the recovery process. It’s your body, after all, and even with the extensive experience and medical knowledge of a chiropractor, no one knows your body better than you.