Here’s what you might expect.
The First Visit
The chiropractor may ask about the following:
• Personal and family medical history
• Major illnesses you have experienced
• Surgeries or operations you have had
• Medications you might be taking
• Your diet and exercise
• Your work and leisure activities
• Your sleeping habits
Tip: Wear comfortable clothes and shoes for your visit to the chiropractor!
The chiropractor may perform some of these tests:
• A check of your blood pressure, pulse, and breathing
• A check of your reflexes
• A test of your muscle strength, flexibility, and coordination
• Analysis of your posture
• X-ray of your spine
• Analysis of your movement (like observe how you walk or lift things)
Tip: Bring a copy of any x-rays you might have.
These assessments give the chiropractor a better picture of your complete health. If your chiropractor diagnoses a problem better treated by another health care professional, he or she will make an appropriate referral. Otherwise, your chiropractor will focus on the specific cause of your back pain.
This usually involves:
• Listening to you describe your pain and symptoms
• Using his or her hands to locate the back problem in your back
• Testing how far you can move in the problem area
• Determining if other parts of your back or body are affected by the
problem (for example, pain in our back can change the way we walk or sit,
and this may result in pain in completely different parts of our body like
our hips or knees)
What Next? Treatment Options
There are different ways a chiropractor can care for your back depending on
your condition. Generally there are three levels of care, but for most people,
the need is for immediate relief.
• Relief Care is provided for immediate pain and discomfort. Depending on the diagnosis, your age and physical condition, one visit, or several visits over a relatively short period of time may be necessary.
• Corrective Care treats long term spinal problems. Because these problems have existed for some time they require a longer, more complex period of care, which may include a customized exercise program.
• Supportive or maintenance care helps you maintain and enjoy the benefits you’ve achieved from relief and corrective care. Continuing to work with your chiropractor and having adjustments once in a while will keep your spine as healthy as possible.
Once a course of care is determined, and the matter of informed consent has been discussed, treatment usually begins. Because of chiropractic’s concern for your overall well-being, most treatment is accompanied by exercise, diet, and other healthy living suggestions to help keep your back healthy and strong.
How often do I need to see a chiropractor?
A common question is how long chiropractic treatment should continue. Your
chiropractor will discuss the need for ongoing care with you, and it will
depend on your specific back problem. For some people chiropractic treatment
is like a regular tune-up for their back, to help deal with the daily wear
and tear of life. For others, it’s simply an effective treatment when
back pain strikes. Take the time to discuss with your chiropractor the level
of care that’s best for you.