A typical first visit to a Doctor of Chiropractic
usually consists of a consultation and complete spinal
examination. After obtaining personal information and a
health history, the doctor will conduct a thorough
chiropractic examination. The most common examination
is called palpation. The doctor carefully palpates the
entire spinal region to detect vertebral misalignments.
Other methods or instruments, including spinal X ray,
may be used to verify the findings and to rule out
pathology, such as cancer. All of the examination
techniques are safe, painless, and noninvasive. After
the spinal examination, the Doctor will review their
findings with the patient and recommends a course of
treatment.
At the heart of chiropractic care is the
adjustment. The spinal adjustment is a precise and
specific means of correcting subluxation, misalignment,
tension, and nerve interference. There are three levels
of chiropractic care: acute care, the restorative phase,
and the wellness phase.
During the acute level of care, the doctor’s
objective is to reduce stress damage to the spine and
nervous system. At this level, which is common when a
patient is seeking help for specific health problems or
is suffering from pain or other symptoms, adjustments
can be as frequent as several times a week.
The restorative phase begins after the spine
is nearly or completely aligned, when it must be
monitored to make sure it holds the adjustment for
longer periods of time. After being misaligned for
months or even years, the body may have a tendency to
resume the habitual alignment and periodic adjustments
may be required. During the wellness phase, the
patient has periodic examinations or adjustments to
ensure that the nerve flow is not encountering
interference from new subluxations. This phase is
useful as part of an optimal wellness, prevention, and
maintenance program, and is an effective form of stress
management. It is also used by many athletes to ensure
optimal performance.