What to expect at the first chiropractor consultation
Chiropractor visit
Patients typically visit a chiropractor for the first time through a personal
reference or a referral of another health care specialist. At the
first visit, you can expect the chiropractor to complete a thorough chiropractic
consultation that takes 60 minutes or more and includes:
Patient history
In preparation for your consultation with the
chiropractor, you will
be asked to fill out forms that provide background
information about your symptoms and condition. Types
of questions the chiropractor might ask include:
- When and how did the pain start?
- Where is it located?
- Is it a result of an injury?
- What makes it better?
- What makes it worse?
You will also usually be asked to provide
the chiropractor with
information
on family medical history, any pre-existing medical
conditions or prior injuries, and previous and current
health providers and treatments.
Chiropractic physical examination
Once the history has been completed, your chiropractor
will perform a thorough chiropractic examination. In
addition to general tests such as blood pressure,
pulse, respiration, and reflexes, the
chiropractic
examination
will include specific orthopedic and neurological
tests to assess:
- Range of motion of the affected part
- Muscle tone
- Muscle strength
- Neurological integrity
Based on the above chiropractic examination procedures,
further chiropractic tests may be necessary to arrive
at the assessment or diagnosis of the affected area
(such as moving your leg in a specified manner, posture
analysis, or the chiropractor manipulating your arm
or leg).
Diagnostic studies
Diagnostic studies are helpful for chiropractors
in revealing pathologies and identifying structural
abnormalities that more accurately diagnose a condition.
They may or may not be deemed necessary by the chiropractor
based upon the results of the history and chiropractic
examination.
The most common diagnostic studies used by chiropractors
include:
- X-ray
- MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan
- Laboratory tests
Many chiropractic offices can do basic x-rays, but
an MRI scan and more extensive images may be referred
to an outside center for which an appointment is needed.
Diagnosis
The culmination of the history, examination and
diagnostic studies is a specific diagnosis. Once the
diagnosis is established, the chiropractor will determine
if the condition will respond to chiropractic care.
The chiropractor will explain:
- The diagnosed condition
- The chiropractic treatment plan (or other treatments)
- The anticipated length of
chiropractic
care
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