Visiting A Chiropractic Clinic: Your Complete Guide
For many of us, chronic musculoskeletal pain can be a real problem. It can make daily activities painful, and make getting out of the house a lot harder. No matter what stage of life you're in, struggling with chronic pain can take a serious toll on both your mind and body.
Our blog looks at some of the ways chiropractic treatment can help your body to recover, as well as what you can expect during your first visit! To find out more about chiropractic treatments and how they can help you, keep on reading.
What Is Chiropractic?
Chiropractors are medical professionals who use non-surgical treatments to help their patients. These treatments might involve spinal manipulation or adjustments that help to improve mobility. Spinal problems can often be treated effectively with chiropractic care, which includes things such as back pain, sciatica and even neck pain.
Chiropractic care is an appealing option for those who want to solve their chronic pains without having to undergo surgery, or intensive procedures. Chiropractic care is actually considered a type of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) rather than a conventional medical treatment, however it has been seen to be extremely effective.
Key Elements Of Chiropractic Care:
If you’re new to chiropractic care, or are having your first treatment soon, it’s important to understand some of the key elements of this treatment, so that you can make the most out of your session. Following your chiropractors guidelines and recommendations can also help you achieve better mobility results and alleviate pain effectively.
- Chiropractic begins with a detailed and thorough assessment of your condition. Your chiropractor will want to understand your medical history, and carry out a physical exam to really understand your physical problem and work out the best solution moving forwards. They will tailor the treatment plan to each individual, so that the best results can be achieved.
- The key element of chiropractic adjustment is the manual techniques that are used to treat patients. Manipulation is used to improve alignment, alleviate pain and enhance function of the body.
- Beyond your chiropractic treatments, your professional chiropractor will most likely give you some lifestyle recommendations, as well as exercises to do at home, and some nutritional tips to help you stay healthy. Listening to your chiropractor’s advice can help you reap the benefits of your sessions, and continue to improve your body’s health outside of the clinic.
Why Do People Choose Chiropractic Care?
Many people choose chiropractic care as their first line of defence against nasty pains and poor mobility as opposed to taking medications or going in for surgeries. Many people consider chiropractic care as a viable alternative, as it seeks to benefit a patient’s overall well-being too.
If you’re having a chiropractic treatment for the first time, keep reading to learn more about what this process involves!
First Time Chiropractic Adjustments: What To Expect
You may be feeling nervous about your first time chiropractic adjustment, but there’s really nothing to worry about. Chiropractic sessions are non-invasive procedures, and are typically painless, though you may feel some discomfort or soreness after your session. We’re here to guide you through what a chiropractic treatment looks like, so that you can be prepared, and free of nerves!
Discussing Your Medical History
First things first, during your initial appointment, your chiropractor will want to go through your medical history with you. This is an extremely important conversation, which will help your medical professional to understand any that may be impacting your pain, such as:
Past injuries- Chronic conditions
- Surgeries
- Lifestyle habits
- Family medical history
- Medications
By being clear and honest with your chiropractor, they can gain the best understanding of your condition, and start to formulate the best way to go about treating it. Relevant information and honestly will help you get the best care.
A Physical Exam
Next, your chiropractor will carry out a physical exam, so that they can gain a better understanding of the chronic pain you are dealing with. The purpose of the physical exam is mostly to see how your joints are moving and what the mobility of your body is like. In doing this, your chiropractor will be able to identify the segments of your spine that need working on, or will benefit from chiropractic treatment.
They may feel your spine for any sensitive areas, and carry out assessments that look at your reflexes, range of motion and the strength of your muscles. Depending on the severity of your case, they may need to take X-rays to further understand what is causing your problem. The physical exam is a fundamental part of creating your treatment plan.
Create Your Treatment Plan
When it comes to your treatment plan, your chiropractor will have all the relevant information from your medical history and the physical exam, allowing them to create the most effective treatment plan. There are various methods of chiropractic that can be used to manipulate and adjust the spine, and your chiropractor may suggest multiple techniques over a course of sessions. These include:
Twist & Crack - The twist and crack method may sound a little intimidating, but it’s actually a common practice among chiropractors. It’s a colloquial term, often used to describe a spinal adjustment. The chiropractor will apply a controlled level of force, using their hands to adjust your spine. You may hear a crack sound, which is nothing to worry about, and is actually just the release of gas bubbles/fluid within the joint.
Drop Tables - Drop table adjustments are also common practices in chiropractic care, and are great for elderly patients. Drop tables use less brute force than standard twist and crack methods, making them a viable option for older people. The drop mechanism in the table helps to motivate better mobility and get the joints moving.
Flexion Distraction - Flexion distraction is performed on a segmented table, and is great for treating herniated discs or decompressing the spine. This technique works on strengthening the spine, and helping to alleviate pain through slower movements.
Your First Chiropractic Adjustment Session
When it comes to your first chiropractic adjustment session, the session will most likely last 45 minutes to an hour. The procedure is non-invasive, and shouldn’t leave you in pain, or hurting in any way. You may feel some discomfort, or slightly sore afterwards, but this is completely normal.
Your chiropractor will carry out the adjustments and techniques that were discussed during your initial consultation, and they will follow the treatment plan that they created for you! The session should not be painful, but if you are experiencing severe discomfort, you should tell your chiropractor immediately, so that they don’t perform any techniques to worsen your pain.
After the session, it is likely that your chiropractor will give you some exercises and stretches to complete at home. These recommendations will help you to maintain mobility and keep up the work done in the chiropractic sessions. If your chiropractor advises you to make some lifestyle changes, these could also help you achieve the best results possible.
Your chiropractor will monitor your progress as the weeks go on, tailoring your plan as you move through your treatment. They will most likely follow up with you during the week after your sessions, so be sure to be honest about your progress, or any difficulties you’re still having.
The Hillsborough Chiropractic Clinic: Chiropractic & Sports Massage Therapy
Here at the Hillsborough Chiropractic Clinic, we offer an excellent level of chiropractic care to all of our patients. Whether you’re struggling with neck pain, sciatica or chronic musculoskeletal problems, we’re here to help. Our qualified experts are trained to help you get back to your old self! We also offer sports massage therapy, to help target deep tissues and get you back on your feet.
To find out more about our chiropractic services, feel free to
get in touch with our team today! We will be happy to help you find the right treatment, and help you book a thorough consultation today!
Our team has been helping people for over 25 years, so don’t hesitate to contact us for more information.
