At your Consultation?
At your initial consultation an in-depth history will be taken, this will include a history of your complaint and well as information on your health and well-being so we can get the best idea of what is causing your pain.
Next a full chiropractic and medical examination will take place. This will include looking at your posture, examining your movement and palpating the joints and muscles. Neurological and orthopedic tests will be conducted such as recording reflexes and any medical examinations needed such as blood pressure or auscultation of the heart and lungs.
Once the cause of your pain can be pin pointed the Chiropractor will explain to you why you have been experiencing your symptoms and what sort of treatment you need.
If there is a need for further investigations such as x-rays you will be referred to a local clinic for these to be taken.
Treatment often starts at the very first visit.
On your first Treatment?
Most commonly your first chiropractic treatment will composes of safe, often gentle, specific spinal manipulation to the stiff and restricted areas of the spine. This increases movement in the area and reduces irritation of the joints, which in turn increases functionality. This manipulation is done with the chiropractors hands.
Once the mobility of the joints has been restored the chiropractor will often treat the surrounding musculature with a number of different soft tissue modalities such as ‘pressure points’, ‘sports massage’ and ‘active stretches’. Advise on using ICE or HEAT will often be given and along with postural advise.
On follow up treatments?
Similar treatment of spinal manipulation and soft tissue work will occur at follow up appointments. The chiropractor will likely start you with some stretches and strengthen exercises at this point and will slowly build on them until you reach your end goal.
How long will the sessions last?
The intial consultation itself will last approximately 45minutes but expect to be in the clinic for 1 hour.
Treatments will typically last 15minutes but expect to be in the clinic for 30 minutes.
Will it hurt?
Spinal manipulation should not be painful. However some pain or discomfort maybe experienced whilst working on the muscles, this pain will be within your pain tolerance level
