Prepping for Your First Chiropractic Appointment
By Chris Brown
The night before your first chiropractic visit can be nerve-racking. You've researched the basics of chiropractic care, flagged the clinic location on Google Maps, and watched some satisfying chiropractic joint cracking videos on YouTube. If you're still wondering how else to prepare, a few must-do's can heighten your first chiropractic experience.
Think of the Clearest Language to Describe Your Pain or Symptoms
The doctor will perform a physical examination, but your firsthand experience of the pain is invaluable for diagnosis. In order to relay this accurately, you should consider how best to describe the pain. One way to do this is to consider questions the doctor may ask: Is it a dull ache or a sharp pain? Does the pain only occur during certain activities? When did you first notice the pain? The more detailed and vivid the description, the better the doctor can target treatment options.
Prep Questions for the Doctor
While you may not think of everything till you're on the chiropractic table, preparing a few questions to ask can optimize your session time. Consider questions about home treatments or lifestyle changes to prevent further aggravation. If you do not know how an injury occurred, a question about typical causes may help you narrow down the culprit and stop future problems.
Review Your Medical History
When entering the office for the first time, the chiropractor will likely ask you about your relevant medical history. This includes heritable family's diseases along with your personal medical history. The doctor may also ask about conditions that seem unrelated to the current injury, so it is best to have all history fresh in your mind.
Plan on Wearing Light or Stretchy Clothing
Remember, the chiropractor may need to twist, pull, and stretch you, so make sure to wear clothes that can stretch along. Leggings or sweatpants and a light shirt are ideal attire. However, most outfits should work as long as you avoid dresses, skirts, or excessive jewelry.
At The Joint Chiropractic insurance is not accepted, so there is nothing else you need besides an openness to the world of pain-free joints and backs. Going to your first chiropractic appointment is like watching a great movie for the first time, you'll never get the new experience back, so enjoy yourself. And remember, you'll be a seasoned regular in no time.
Ready to schedule your first appointment? The Joint Chiropractic would love to evaluate you today at one of its over 600 nationwide clinics. No appointments are accepted so stop on by for a walk-in consultation to find a treatment plan that works for you.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Austin, Tex.