The Benefits of Visiting a Chiropractor Regularly

Never Been To A Chiropractor? Here's What You Need To Know

by Chloe Dean

Are you considering a visit to the chiropractor? If so, it's natural to have questions about what to expect. Perhaps you are in pain or have tried talking to your regular doctor. If you are ready to try a chiropractor, here is everything you need to know about your first visit.

Initial Consultation

At your initial consultation, the chiropractor will want to learn more about you and your physical health. They will ask questions about your medical history and any previous treatments or surgeries that you have had to better understand how they can help you. It is vital that you answer these questions as accurately as possible. The information will be used when creating your treatment plan.

Examination

After discussing your medical history, the chiropractor will perform an examination, which could include taking X-rays of the area in question, checking your range of motion, and assessing muscle strength or reflexes. The goal of this exam is to identify any misalignments or restrictions in movement that could be either causing or exacerbating your pain and discomfort.

Treatment

After the examination, the chiropractor will create a personalized treatment plan for you based on their findings. Chiropractors have many ways to treat injuries and misalignments to help their patients, including:

  • Adjustments. A manual adjustment, also called manipulation, is what everyone is curious about before their first chiropractic visit. Adjustments involve a quick, gentle thrust to help release restrictions and get the spine back into alignment. If you have seen videos of an adjustment, it may look and sound dramatic, but it often brings instant relief to patients.
  • Soft-tissue therapy. Soft-tissue therapy involves using specific techniques to target soft tissues, including gentle stretching to release tension, reduce pain, and improve mobility.
  • Rehabilitation exercises. Depending on your needs, you may be given a series of exercises you can do at home to help you recover from an injury or help you manage your pain.
  • Electrical stimulation. If you have severe pain, you may be given a low-voltage electrical current to help reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and block nerve signals that cause you pain.
  • Heat therapy. Heat therapy is used to increase blood flow and relax the muscles, which can help reduce pain.

The treatment plan will be tailored specifically for you to meet both your short-term needs and longer-term goals for improving overall health and well-being.

Visiting a chiropractor can be an effective way to address pain or discomfort caused by the misalignment of joints and muscles in the body. However, before visiting a chiropractor for the first time, it's important that you understand what to expect so you can feel more comfortable during the visit and know what is going on every step of the way.

Contact a chiropractor near you to learn more. 

Share