Chiropractic medicine concentrates on the relationship between the skeleton, muscles, and nerves, using adjustment techniques to improve patients’ overall health. Chiropractors often treat common musculoskeletal conditions, such as headaches, neck pain, joint pain in the arms and legs, back pain, and other mechanical disorders. Using manual therapy such as spine manipulations, joint manipulations, soft tissue massages, providing patients with exercise, health, and lifestyle counseling can lessen and eliminate patients’ pain and improve their health.

There are three parts to your first chiropractic appointment; patient intake, patient examination, and treatment. 

Patient Intake 

First, patients fill out the necessary forms to get started and answer a doctor’s questionnaire with background information relevant to their symptoms and condition(s). 

Patient Examination

Next, a doctor will give the patient a chiropractic exam comprised of general and chiropractic tests to help diagnose the patient. Tests may include blood pressure, reflex, range of motion and more. An X-ray may be required. 

Patient Treatment 

After being diagnosed, the doctor may decide to provide treatment that day, providing you immediate back adjustments. This treatment occurs on a padded table where the doctor will have you sit upright, lie on your stomach side, or back. You will then receive a treatment plan that may include multiple sessions, exercises to do at home, diet or nutrition advice, and vitamin supplements.

A chiropractic adjustment is the manipulation of vertebrae that have any irregular movement or are not functioning normally. A chiropractic adjustment help treats back pain, head pain, and other pain sources. The treatment reduces any dislocated vertebrae and increases one’s range of motion, reducing nerve irritation, and improves body function.

For most patients, adjustments do not hurt. Some patients are not used to Chiropractic treatment and resist the adjustment resulting in a small amount of discomfort until they can relax. There may also be some discomfort if a patient had a recent trauma that causes inflammation, such as whiplash. Patients may also have involuntary stiffness. Despite that, many patients feel relief, calm, and improved mobility after the adjustment. To help relax, your Chiropractor may opt into doing electrical stimulation and massage before the chiropractic adjustment.

Many studies have shown that adjustments are safe and effective. Chiropractic treatment is one of the safest, drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for neuromusculoskeletal problems. Adjustments are drastically safer than having surgery on your spine and taking medications. Complications from chiropractic adjustments are rare and random. Do not attempt to adjust yourself. Chiropractors are skilled professionals who have training in adjustments. It is dangerous to try to do this on your own.

The reason one might hear a popping sound when the Chiropractor adjusts one’s joints is that tiny gas pockets are released during the pressure, just like when one pops their knuckles. Not all patients have a popping noise, and it does not correlate with whether the treatment is working or not.

Most Health insurance plans cover chiropractic care, including major medical plans, workers’ compensation, Medicare, some Medicaid plans, and Blue Cross Blue Shield plans for federal employees. For a list of insurances that we take, please scroll up, and check out our insurance coverage tab.

Chiropractors go through extensive training in chiropractic care and are licensed practitioners. They have undergraduate degrees in the sciences and a 4-year chiropractic degree from a certified chiropractic school accredited by the Council on Chiropractic education. After their schooling, chiropractors must take an exam to obtain their certification. Throughout their career, they must also take continued education classes regularly.