Focusing On My Back Injuries

What To Expect At A Chiropractic Visit

5 August 2015

Timothy Byrd

Seeing a chiropractor for the first time can be nerve-wracking; after all, they are dealing with sensitive spinal and neurological problems. Here is what you can expect from your chiropractic visits (at local providers such as those from North Star Chiropractic Center). 

An Examination Phase

Each chiropractic visit will include an initial assessment, where your doctor will check in to see how your treatment is going. This could include taking measurements of your spinal alignment, taking new x-rays, and even asking how your symptoms have improved. This will set the stage for the rest of your appointment. 

Spinal Therapies

Based on the information collected during the initial examination, your chiropractor will then work with you to do new therapies for your bones and spine. The staple of a chiropractic visit is the spinal adjustment, where your doctor will feel your spine and apply gentle pressure to correct your spinal alignment. For this adjustment to work correctly, it's important for you to point out areas where you feel pain during the examination; sometimes, spinal pain can be hidden from sight until a doctor applies pressure in a certain direction.   

Besides spinal adjustments, your doctor may also recommend some massage therapy to help your condition. You might lay on a massage table during your appointment or receive treatment from a qualified massage therapist. 

The next part of treatment is home exercises. There are a number of things that you can do at home to improve your spinal condition. For instance, your doctor might give you a special headrest that's designed to gradually shape your neck vertebrae. 

Chiropractors Use Consent

It's important to note that your chiropractor should always use consent before performing any spinal manipulations. This is so that you can monitor your own level of care. If you are prepared for a spinal manipulation, you will be able to relax and help the manipulation work more effectively. You'll also be able to avoid sore spots and treatments that haven't worked for you in the past. 

There are different levels of manipulations that your chiropractor can do to adjust your spine. For instance, instead of leveraging your body weight in order to perform an adjustment, your chiropractor can opt to use a small tool that uses minimal pressure on your spine. This way, you can control the level of force that's applied to your spine. A chiropractic adjustment is designed to make you feel better, so it's great for you to understand your options and feel comfortable during your visit.  

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