What to expect
When you visit a chiropractor for the first time, it can be a little daunting not knowing what to expect. This page gives a brief outline of what happens during a consultation with a chiropractor at Worcester Chiropractic Clinic.
Before you arrive
You will have received a medical questionnaire upon booking. Please ensure this is filled in prior to your appointment.
Rushing to your appointment is no fun, so try to arrive 5-10 minutes early. You can have a relax in our waiting area or have a chat with our friendly reception team.
If possible, please refrain from wearing perfumes/colognes.
Feel free to bring a friend/family member along. It can be helpful having somebody else to remember things and to ask questions.
When you arrive
You will be greeted by our reception staff. If your chiropractor is ready to see you, reception will show you to the consultation room. Otherwise, you will be able to have a relax in our waiting room.
We have changing cubicles for you to leave any coats and boots in, or if you need to change out of work clothing etc.
Your chiropractor will collect you from the changing area as soon as you are ready and take you into the consultation room.
During Consultation
The first step to a chiropractic consultation is a conversation. Feel free to sit, stand, walk around or lie down during this.
Your chiropractor will ask you to tell them about your reason for visiting. You don’t have to provide every microscopic detail but your chiropractor will be there to guide you and help you to cover all of the useful information.
Your chiropractor will ask you a number of questions, some clearly related to your reason for visiting, others to your general health and some may even seem unrelated entirely. All your chiropractor is trying to do is establish that they can help and the best way to do this.
Chiropractors treat more than just spines and we like to look at you holistically, so it is a good idea to mention any other areas of concern during your consultation.
The next step of consultation is physical examination. Most of the time you will be able to stay in the clothes you are wearing.
In specific circumstances, your chiropractor may ask you to change into a gown or remove items of clothing. Your comfort and dignity are paramount at all times and, if you feel at all uncomfortable, speak to your chiropractor. They will try to find a work-around.
Your chiropractor will then examine your posture, before asking you to perform specific movements whilst observing and palpating your joints and muscles. Precise stress tests will also be performed to assess the integrity and sensitivity of different tissues.
Dependant on the nature of your complaint, you may also undergo other tests such as blood pressure, pulse rate, fundoscopy (looking inside your eye), and so forth.
Report of Findings
Here your chiropractor will describe the conclusions they have drawn following examination. Sometimes your chiropractor may share these conclusions as they are examining you.
They will provide you with an insight into what is working well and not so well with your body.
Your chiropractor will outline what they can do to help and any steps you should be taking.
Opportunity to ask questions will always be given, and please don’t feel rude to ask as many as you can think of!
Treatment
Wherever possible, treatment is given on the same visit as examination, and is included in the consultation fee.
Your chiropractor will ask if you are happy to have treatment and if you have any questions before treatment is started.
Treatment varies from person to person and can involve manipulation, myofascial release, acupuncture, mobilisation and other manual therapy techniques. A combination of methods will be used in most instances.
Your chiropractor will use their experience and education to judge what, and how much treatment, to do on your first visit.
Sometimes you will feel immediately different after treatment, and sometimes not. Please remember that meaningful change is often not going to occur after one session.
Your chiropractor will then advise what actions you need to take at this stage and when to book a follow up. Reception will then assist in finding a suitable time/day for you.
Further Appointments
If you haven’t seen a chiropractor recently, it is quite likely that you will need a course of treatment.
A course of treatment enables your chiropractor to restore normal function to your joints and muscles. A typical course is around 6 sessions, but this will depend on a number of factors.
Your chiropractor will try to provide a guide for you as to how many sessions and over what time period you will need.
Once you have completed this course, most people elect to keep on top of things through maintenance or preventative treatment.
Research shows that people who follow a preventative approach get fewer painful episodes and spend less on care than those that react to flare ups.
By gradually spacing out intervals between sessions, your chiropractor can work out the best treatment frequency to prevent future problems. For most people, this is every one to two months.
