What Happens During My First Chiropractic Exam?

So, you’ve made the decision to visit a chiropractor to get support for your health and wellbeing. Chiropractic treatment is an increasingly popular choice among people who are looking to address health issues and optimize their wellbeing using non-invasive, drug-free therapy. However, if you’ve not had chiropractic treatment before, you may be wondering what to expect. Here’s what you need to know about what happens during your first chiropractic exam.

The Consultation

The first time that you visit a chiropractor, you will be given a very detailed and comprehensive assessment of your health. This is because this appointment will form a baseline for all subsequent visits.

You will be asked a variety of different questions by your chiropractor, most of which will relate to your medical history and current wellbeing. Some of the questions that you may be asked may not seem particularly important, but they will help your chiropractor to establish an overall picture of your health and determine which areas of your body would particularly benefit from chiropractic attention.

Following this, your chiropractor will perform a physical examination of your body. They may ask you to sit and stand in certain positions, as well as to perform specific movements. This will help them to assess your still and dynamic posture, as well as how you naturally move. This information is important when determining what treatment you would benefit from.

Your First Adjustment

Many chiropractors will perform your first adjustment at the time of your first appointment. This will also enable your chiropractor to assess how well you respond to treatment. You will need to give permission for this to happen, and your chiropractor should explain what will happen and why.

In most instances, you will be able to keep most of your clothes on while the adjustment is performed. This is because chiropractic adjustments involve manipulating the limbs and back in order to bring the spine into proper alignment and reduce pressure on certain areas that could be causing you pain, limited movements or other issues. We recommend that you wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes for this reason. If you are asked to remove any layers of clothing, you may be offered a gown to wear.

Your chiropractic adjustment shouldn’t hurt, but you may feel some pressure. It’s also normal to feel a little sore and uncomfortable for a few hours after, but this should ease fairly quickly, and you are unlikely to need to take any pain medication.

What Issues Can Chiropractic Treatment Help With?

Chiropractic treatment is mainly associated with muscle and joint pain, including:
 

• Back pain
   

• Neck pain
   

• Shoulder pain
   

• Elbow pain
   

• Pain resulting from osteoarthritis

Nevertheless, studies have also shown that it can be extremely beneficial in the treatment of a whole range of different health conditions, including:
 

• Sports injuries
   

• Trauma injuries such as whiplash
   

• Sleep disorders
   

• Headaches/migraines
   

• Digestive issues
   

• Stress and anxiety

If you aren’t sure if chiropractic care can help you, your chiropractor will be able to advise you. Visit Weierstahl Chiropractic Clinic in Owosso, Michigan. Call (989) 723-8864 today.