If you've never been to a chiropractor before, you may not know what to expect.
Will you get adjusted on your first visit? Do you need X-rays? How many visits will you need? And how do you know whether a particular chiropractor is the right fit for you?
Those are reasonable questions.
Interestingly, I didn't receive my first chiropractic adjustment until I was 27 years old and already in chiropractic school.
Before becoming a chiropractor, my background was in exercise science, sports and exercise science, and strength and conditioning. That experience continues to shape how I approach patient care today.
If you're considering chiropractic care for the first time, here are three things I think every patient should know.
1. Not All Chiropractors Practice the Same Way
“Chiropractic care” can mean different things depending on where you go.
Some chiropractors primarily provide adjustments. Others incorporate exercise, rehabilitation, soft-tissue treatment, or additional treatment options.
Treatment techniques can also vary considerably.
That's why choosing a chiropractor shouldn't simply mean finding the closest office.
Look at how the chiropractor approaches problems you're experiencing and whether that approach fits what you're looking for.
At Northwood Chiropractic & Wellness, we focus primarily on musculoskeletal problems involving the spine, joints, muscles, and nerves.
Depending on your condition, your care may include chiropractic adjustments, rehabilitation and movement, spinal decompression, massage therapy, or a combination of approaches.
2. Your First Visit Should Be About Understanding the Problem
You shouldn't have to walk into a chiropractic office already knowing which treatment you need.
That's our job to help determine.
Your first visit should begin with a conversation about what's bothering you.
We want to know:
- Where you're experiencing symptoms
- When the problem started
- What makes it better or worse
- How it's affecting work or daily activities
- Previous injuries or treatment
- What activities you want to get back to
From there, we perform an examination.
Depending on your symptoms, this may include evaluating your movement, strength, range of motion, neurological findings, and other relevant factors.
X-rays may also be taken when clinically appropriate.
The goal is to gather enough information to answer an important question:
What's likely contributing to your problem, and what should we do about it?
3. A Good Treatment Plan Should Have a Goal
Chiropractic care shouldn't simply be an endless series of adjustments.
If treatment is recommended, you should understand why you're receiving it and what you're trying to accomplish.
For someone with back pain, the initial goal might be getting comfortable enough to work, sleep, or exercise again.
Someone with neck pain may want to regain comfortable neck movement.
An athlete may be less concerned about everyday activities and more concerned about returning to training or competition.
Your goals matter.
How Many Chiropractic Visits Will You Need?
There's no universal answer.
Some musculoskeletal problems improve relatively quickly. Others may require more time, particularly when symptoms have been present for a long time or involve significant functional limitations.
Your recommendations may depend on:
- Your condition
- Severity of symptoms
- How long you've had the problem
- Examination findings
- Your activity demands
- Your goals
- How you respond to treatment
Your treatment frequency should also change as you improve.
If you're progressing, your care plan should reflect that.
If you're not improving as expected, your condition should be reassessed rather than simply repeating the same treatment indefinitely.
Will You Get Adjusted on Your First Visit?
In most cases, yes—if your examination indicates chiropractic treatment is appropriate.
Your current $19 New Patient Special includes your first chiropractic adjustment.
There are situations, however, where treatment may not be appropriate on the first visit.
If your history or examination suggests that additional testing, imaging, or another type of medical evaluation is necessary first, we'll explain that to you.
Will You Need X-Rays?
Not necessarily.
X-rays can provide useful information in certain situations, but not every patient requires imaging.
Whether X-rays are appropriate depends on factors such as your history, symptoms, examination findings, previous injuries, and clinical presentation.
When imaging isn't necessary, we don't need to take it simply because you're seeing a chiropractor.
Chiropractic Care Is More Than Getting Something “Put Back Into Place”
This is another thing I wish more people understood before their first chiropractic visit.
An adjustment isn't simply putting a bone “back into place.”
Chiropractic adjustments are manual treatments used to influence joint movement and help improve comfortable mobility.
But improving movement is only one part of recovering from many musculoskeletal problems.
That's why treatment may also involve rehabilitation and movement.
Improving strength, mobility, stability, and tolerance for activity can be particularly important when the goal is getting back to work, exercise, sports, or everyday activities.
How Do You Know if a Chiropractor Is Right for You?
Ask questions.
You should feel comfortable asking:
What do you think is causing my symptoms?
Why are you recommending this treatment?
How will we know whether it's working?
How many visits do you expect I'll need?
What can I do outside the office?
What happens if I'm not improving?
You may not receive a perfectly precise answer to every question on day one, but you should understand the reasoning behind your care.
Your First Chiropractic Visit in Maple Grove, MN
If you've never seen a chiropractor before, you don't need to know exactly what's wrong or which treatment you need.
That's what the evaluation is for.
At Northwood Chiropractic & Wellness, we'll start by understanding what's bothering you, perform an examination, and help determine the appropriate next step.
Our goal isn't simply to get you adjusted.
It's to help you understand your problem and build a plan to get you moving and feeling better.
Start Feeling Better for Just $19
Your first visit includes a consultation, comprehensive exam, X-rays if needed, and your first chiropractic adjustment.
Dr. Greg Beenken
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