What Can I Expect on My First Visit to a DC?
The first thing a chiropractor will do is ask you about the
health complaints about which you are chiefly concerned. The
DC will also ask about your family history, dietary habits,
other care you may have had (chiropractic, osteopathic, medical,
etc.), your job, and other questions designed to help determine
the nature of your illness and the best way to go about treating
the problem.
A physical examination will be performed in accordance with
your DC's clinical judgement, which may include x-rays, laboratory
analysis and other diagnostic procedures. In addition, a careful
spinal examination and analysis will be performed to detect
any structural abnormalities which may be affecting or causing
your condition. All of these elements are important components
of your total health profile, and vital to the doctor of chiropractic
in evaluating your problem.
An "adjustment," as doctors of chiropractic use
the term, means the specific manipulation of vertebrae which
have abnormal movement patterns or fail to function normally.
Doctors of chiropractic spend years learning motion palpation
(the art of examining by movement or touch) and other forms
of spinal examining procedures, so that they can administer
specific and appropriate spinal adjustments.
Once the DC has identified the problem, he/she will begin
care by way of these adjustments or "manipulations."
Particular attention will be paid to that area of your spine
where a spinal derangement or "subluxation" has
been detected. The adjustment is usually given by hand or
"activator" type instruments, and consists of applying
pressure to the areas of the spine that are out of alignment
or that do not move properly within their normal range of
motion.
Doctors of chiropractic use many sophisticated and varied
techniques, and the specific procedure to be used will be
determined and explained completely to you following a careful
evaluation of your radiographs and physical findings.
Under normal circumstances, adjustments don't hurt. The patient
may experience a minor amount of discomfort during the adjustment
which lasts only seconds. Adjustments or manipulations are
extremely safe. The risk factor is estimated to be in excess
of 1 million to 1.
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