Your First Visit

On your first visit the chiropractor will ask a lot of questions, not only about the pain or complaint that may have brought you, but about your past medical history. This will ensure that chiropractic care is appropriate for your condition, or if you need to be referred to your GP or relevant specialist.

Your details are confidential. No one else will be allowed to see your notes without your permission.

Examination

Once the case history is complete, an examination will be performed. The examination will concentrate on your neuromusculoskeletal system (nerves, muscles and joints) but it may be necessary to check other things such as your heart, lungs and abdomen to rule out other causes.

Gowns are made available for you to wear for the examinations as well as any following treatments.

Report and Findings

Before treatment starts, you will be told, in clear simple language what is wrong with you, what can be done about it and what you should expect when you receive your first adjustment. You may also be given advice regarding exercise and lifestyle changes that may be beneficial to your condition.

Treatment

Chiropractic treatment mainly involves safe, often gentle, specific adjustments, done by hand, to free joints in the spine or other areas of the body that are not moving properly. Most often this requires a short thrust to a joint that can result in an audible ‘crack’ and may bring relief to symptoms as well as an increased feeling of well-being. The ‘crack’ is simply the sound of bubbles of gas popping in the fluid of the joint as the pressure is released.

Chiropractic treatment can be used to treat all ages from young babies to elderly people.

(Ref ‘Your First Visit’: Waddell G et al Clinical Guidelines for the Management of Low Back Pain (1999) Royal College of General Practitioners).