There are many reasons people seek out a chiropractor. Back pain, neck pain, and headaches are at the top of the list, but there are a lot of other common complaints a chiropractor can treat. This includes aches and pains, digestive issues, fatigue, sleep disorders, and help with posture and movement.
If you’re contemplating visiting a chiropractor near you for the first time, you’re in luck. You’re bound to get much more than you pay for in just the very first visit! A doctor of chiropractic care performs spinal manipulations – and other nonsurgical procedures – to treat a wide array of medical conditions and symptoms. Much of what they do is designed to relieve pain by better aligning parts of your body to improve your movement and function.
Here’s what to expect during your first visit to a chiropractor.
Consult & Review
After you have filled out the required new patient paperwork, you will meet with the chiropractor to discuss the reason for your visit, along with any concerns you may have. The chiropractor will thoroughly review your medical history with you, including all current prescription and over-the-counter medications you’re taking. It is often helpful if you can bring a list of the drug names, dosages, and how often you take each. The doctor may ask you questions about how well certain medications worked (or didn’t work) for you. You should also bring with you any relevant test results ordered or performed by another physician. The consult and reviewers did identify patterns in your medical history, as well as factors that may need to be considered with chiropractic treatment.
Assessment & Diagnosis
During this stage of your first visit, the chiropractor will perform a physical examination of your spine to assess the impact your condition is having on your daily life. Additional diagnostic tests (e.g., X-rays, postural analysis, reflex, and range-of-motion tests) may be performed, depending on your area of injury or concern.
At Reagan Integrated Sports Medicine in Dallas, Texas, we are proud to offer our patients a unique diagnostic tool: the Kinetisense 3D Analysis. Our patients simply stand in front of a sensor, and the equipment captures posture and movement – and generates an easy-to-understand report. This test can identify balance or related movement problems with extreme precision.
Customized Treatment Plan
After the chiropractor has reviewed all relevant information and a diagnosis has been made, the two of you will discuss various treatment options. Typically, a customized treatment regimen will be created, which will include multiple treatment modalities that will work together to deliver optimal results. You will work with your chiropractor over time to make adjustments to your plan as your symptoms decrease. For example, spinal manipulations usually occur more frequently when you first start visiting a chiropractor – then occur less often, once your alignment has been achieved, to maintain it.
Very often, you will receive your first adjustment toward the end of your first chiropractic appointment. You will be asked to lay on a special table, and the chiropractor will apply pressure – with the hands or a special hand-held tool – to correct spinal misalignments, relieve pressure on the joints, and improve circulation and nerve function. You may hear a cracking or popping sound, but it shouldn’t hurt.
Experienced Chiropractor in Dallas, TX
Are you on the search for the best chiropractic care available in Dallas, Texas? At Reagan Integrated Sports Medicine, our chiropractors are adept at discovering what’s causing the problem – and helping you find a nonsurgical way to treat I while relieving your pain in the process.
Call Reagan Integrated Sports Medicine at (972) 503-7272 to find out more or simply request an appointment now.
