If you’ve never had an appointment with a Chiropractor and you’re thinking of booking one, you might be curious (or even a little nervous) as to what to expect. It helps to be as at ease as possible before receiving any kind of physical treatment, so the more relaxed about your appointment you are, the better for you. Knowing what to expect when you arrive, and during the course of the consultation is helpful, reassuring and takes away any of the nerves you might have.
Before you arrive
Before you arrive at your consultation, it’s important you feel comfortable with your consultant, and you should feel free to ask any questions you have. This obviously applies to during the appointment too, but most patients tend to have lots of burning questions before the appointment too – so don’t be afraid to ask!
During your first consultation
Your first consultation might be over the phone, or it might be in-person. The aim of your initial consultation is for your chiropractor to gather as much information as possible about the issue or pain you’re experiencing, so they can tailor the treatments and techniques specifically to you. Don’t consider any detail to small or insignificant – make sure you tell your chiropractor everything you think might be helpful. The better they understand the issue, the better they can treat you.
You might also be asked to fill in your medical history or fill in a form with lots of questions on it. This is totally normal, and the kind of questions to expect are:
- When did the pain begin?
- Do you remember if anything caused the pain?
- Where is the pain located?
- Describe the pain in detail. When does it occur? Is it sharp or dull?
- Does the pain come and go, or is it continual?
- Is the pain worse at certain times of day?
- What activities/circumstances makes it better or worse?
If your first consultation is in-person, you might begin your treatment immediately afterwards and go straight into a session, or you might need to rebook for a following date. This differs from practitioner to practitioner.
During your first appointment
Usually, your first appointment with your Chiropractor will be a session to determine what the issue is, and how it can be resolved. This means you’ll most likely be given a thorough chiropractic exam, including tests such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and reflexe. You might also be checked for range of motion (especially if your pain is related to this). Some chiropractors will also do posture analysis, or give you x-rays (if they deem it necessary) during this first appointment. The point of this is to give the chiropractor a clear and broad impression of the problem so that they can treat it effectively and efficiently.
Once your initial visit has finished, your chiropractor will explain their findings, usually including:
- Diagnosed condition
- Your personal chiropractic treatment plan
- Anticipated length of chiropractic care
This will give you an idea of the care that will follow, including the timescale and the cost too. It’s a good idea to ask for this in written form, so you can take it away with you and study it closer, do additional research.
