What happens during the assessment?
An initial chiropractic consultation is very similar to that of a standard medical intake. You will likely complete a health questionnaire and answer questions about your health history. Typically the chiropractor asks you to indicate where you are experiencing discomfort by marking the areas on a drawing of the human body.
What happens during the physical exam?
The chiropractor will start with a routine physical exam, then follow it with an exam that focuses on the spine, with particular attention given to the areas of complaint. The chiropractor may examine your whole spine and neighbouring areas that could be contributing to the symptoms.
The physical exam typically includes a variety of assessments, such as range of motion tests, palpation, reflex testing, muscle strength comparisons, and neurological and orthopaedic tests focused on the main complaint.
What goes into a treatment plan?
Following the assessments, the chiropractor will develop a treatment plan that takes into account:
- The extent of your injury or irritation
- Your general health
- The condition of your spine as affected by age and previous injury
- What your goals are, which is the most important item
Your goals of treatment should result from the discussion you have with your chiropractor. Many people seek relief from pain or discomfort, while others want help returning to work, exercise or their usual activities.
In initial consultations, your chiropractor will tell you the status of your condition and recommend an approach to care. Ask questions. As in any professional-patient relationship, trust and mutual understanding are vitally important.
What is a typical treatment?
“Adjustments” are usually a central part of chiropractic treatment. A chiropractic adjustment is a therapeutic manipulation that uses controlled force, leverage, direction, amplitude, and velocity directed at specific joints.
Your chiropractor will most often make these adjustments to the spine, but may adjust other joints, such as the ankle, knee, wrist, elbow, or shoulder in order to improve joint function.
The number and frequency of appointments depends on the assessment, your goals and how you respond. Your progress should be reviewed rather than following a fixed schedule.
If you can’t tolerate manual adjustments, you may instead receive mild or non-force techniques.
Adjustments may be accompanied by other approaches such as soft-tissue work, rehabilitative exercise and advice about activity, work or other lifestyle factors relevant to the problem.