CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT & YOUR FIRST CHIROPRACTIC APPOINTMENT

Many people visiting a Chiropractor for the first time are nervous and have uncertain expectations. You are not alone; this is very common. Please know that we will always make sure that you’re comfortable, informed and confident in everything that takes place in our office. We only recommend safe and proven treatments that will alleviate your discomfort and improve your wellbeing. We’re here to help.

Below are what you can expect from your first visit. If you have any further questions or need clarification, please do not hesitate to reach out.

1. Initial Intake

First, you will be greeted by our friendly receptionist and asked to fill out a health questionnaire. If you have insurance coverage and would be interested in our clinic setting up direct billing for you, this can also be done at this time. Following the initial paperwork, you will then be introduced to your new Chiropractor and answer questions specific to your areas of concern and goals for the visit.

Gathering information about your condition is a vital component in determining how we can best help you. If you’re in pain, you’ll be asked to describe the area of complaint, its location, the mechanism of injury, changes to your pain since onset, aggravating factors, relieving factors, pain characteristics and other specific questions that allow our Chiropractor to zero in on potential diagnoses.

We believe a thorough approach and precise diagnosis is necessary to best determine the ideal treatment strategy and provide accurate expectations in regards to resolving your pain and discomfort.

2. Physical Exam

During the exam, our Chiropractor will conduct a complete assessment of your areas of complaint, your range of motion and movement, muscle strength comparisons, reflexes, as well as neurological and orthopaedic tests.  If you are in pain, this process will allow the Chiropractor to target and determine the specific tissues and cause of your discomfort.

Our Chiropractors may also assess the integrity of your posture, movement habits, strength balance as well as your general physical health and function. We love helping take away our patients pain, but we really love improving the connection they have with their bodies.

If your goals are simply to get out of pain, great, we can help. But if you want to improve your posture, movement habits, physical function, joint health, and build a body that functions at a high level long-term; we would absolutely love to assist you on this journey.

3. Chiropractic Treatment

Chiropractic adjustments are often the key to restoring structural alignment, improve joint function and relieve pain. However, we offer many other techniques that complement the adjustment and can have a profound effect on your discomfort and wellbeing. If a Chiropractic adjustment is recommended, it will involve a controlled manipulation of joints along the spine or extremities. Please know that if you are uncomfortable with any specific adjustment that is being recommended, gentle alternatives are always presented as options.

In addition to Chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue therapies such as Active Release Technique, Graston, guasha, fascial release, myofascial release and other approaches may be recommended. These techniques release tension in your muscles, fascia, connective and soft tissues, thus restoring balance, strength and control over the joints and moving structures in the body. In simpler terms, any stiffness of tension will be washed away, leaving you feeling calm and relaxed.

Chiropractic Treatment may also involve therapeutic exercise and stretches to improve posture, movement and restore muscle imbalances. You may be given recommendations to improve the ergonomics of your work station, taught strategies to manage your pain, shown self-treatment techniques for your condition, or shown methods to improve your health and physical function, while at home.

4. Follow-up Plan

Following your assessment, your Oakville Chiropractor will develop a treatment plan and strategy that takes into account:

• The extent of your injury or concern
• Your goals ie. pain relief, improved posture, restore muscle imbalances, improved physical function, movement habits etc.
• The condition of your spine, as affected by previous injury, age and general health.

The goals you are hoping to achieve is most important to your Chiropractor.  Many people visit our clinic to find relief from pain or discomfort, while others want to improve their posture, general health, or preserve the vitality of their soft tissues and joints long term. Whatever your health goals are, please know that we are capable and more than willing to help you achieve them.