What should you expect on your first visit?
Your chiropractor may be treating your back pain, neck pain, headache, or other aches and pains during your chiropractic treatment, but he or she needs a complete picture of your health history and overall current health in order to provide the best possible treatment for you.
Set aside at least 45 minutes for your first visit to the chiropractor at our North York Clinic. Future visits (treatments) typically last 20 minutes or less, though the time required will depend upon the type of treatment you require. Here’s what you might expect.
During your first chiropractic treatment at our North York clinic, your chiropractor may ask about the following:
- personal and family medical history
- major illnesses you have experienced
- surgeries or operations you have had
- medications you are taking
- a description of your present condition
- the steps you have taken to manage your condition
- your diet and exercise
- your sleeping habits, daily activities, work routine, stress level, and home life
It is a good idea to wear comfortable clothes and shoes for your visit to the chiropractor.
The following tests may be done on the first visit:
- a check of your blood pressure, pulse and breathing
- a test of your reflexes, strength and sensations
- an analysis of your posture
- an X-ray of your spine
- an analysis of your movement — he/she will observe how you walk, turn, bend or lift things, as well as how your body moves in the affected area
- a gait exam – an electronic analysis of the way that you walk
- a hands-on evaluation of how well your spine moves, identifying restrictions and areas of improper motion
Tip:
Bring a copy of any X-rays or radiology reports you have to your chiropractic treatment. These assessments give your chiropractor a better picture of your complete health. He or she will make a diagnosis, prescribe a course of treatment, and once the matter of informed consent has been discussed, treatment usually begins.
If your chiropractor diagnoses a condition more appropriately treated by another health care professional, he or she will make a referral.