Understanding your first Chiropractic visit
History and Questionnaire
During your first visit to a chiropractor a thorough health history will take place. This will include your current condition, previous injuries and any other areas to be examined. A medical and family history of any conditions will be obtained to gain better insight to your body and medication if there are any. Based on the answers given, a differential diagnosis will be given and the areas of concern will be tested on.
Posture Analysis and Functional Movement Assessment
A comprehensive assessment of your body's structure and functionality will be conducted. This will focus on how your posture affects your functional movement patterns e.g. poor mobility, flexibility through hips, back, neck can place extra strain through the shoulders giving you shoulder pain.
Chiropractic care emphasises the relationship between posture and functional movement, recognising that the spine and its surrounding structures play a crucial role in overall health and mobility. A thorough analysis is performed to identify any restrictions that may prevent certain movements that is limiting your function and performance .
Specifically, chiropractors screen for dysfunctional areas of the spine, where movement may be restricted. These restrictions can impact the surrounding soft tissues, including ligaments and muscles, affecting their proper movement and stability function. This may lead to back and neck pain, tension, inflammation, and even nerve impingement or sports injuries.
A physical examination will take place that includes, postural analysis, range of motion testing, orthopaedic and neurological testing. Depending on your condition, scans may be required, and your chiropractor will refer you accordingly.
In subsequent visits, a complimentary 3-Dimensional foot scan may be offered to those interested. This scan provides insight into foot arches and their impact on postural alignment and support, further enhancing your understanding of your body's biomechanics.
Diagnosis, Treatment Plan Outlined and Treatment
Following a physical examination, your chiropractor will then take you through your diagnosis and outline a treatment plan where we work alongside you in order to achieve your health goals e.g. reduce pain, improve flexibility, increase strength, return to daily activities, chores, golf, what ever that may be.
A physical diagnosis will be given as well as a functional diagnosis, which will explain why you have pain. A treatment schedule will be outlined in order to achieve your short term and long term goals, e.g. 2-4 weeks reduce pain, 6-8 weeks following improving strength. This is based on tissue healing rates.
A prognosis will also be given which is dependent on your condition and how long you have had this for.
Treatment will be given involving hands on manual therapy techniques such as soft tissue work, joint mobilisation, manipulation, as well as advice, load management, and a rehab plan.
Ready to take control of your spinal health and mobility?
Schedule your initial chiropractic visit with Bernard Chiropractic today and embark on the journey towards improved health!