What To Expect During Your First Chiropractic Appointment

Do you suffer from a chronic condition, such as arthritis or fibromyalgia, that causes moderate to severe discomfort? Or have you recently injured yourself and unable to enjoy the things you used to do regularly?

Regardless of the reason, any musculoskeletal discomfort can be debilitating and lead to poor quality of life. However, before starting a regimen of highly addictive medications, or scheduling steroid injections that have many side effects, consider a holistic approach to relieve your discomfort. A chiropractic adjustment may be all you need to align your bones and reduce the inflammation causing your discomfort. Read on to find out what to expect during your first appointment with a chiropractor, and the benefits you may experience from the adjustment.

Patient history and symptoms reviewed

After scheduling an appointment with a chiropractor and signing in, you will first go over your medical history and the symptoms causing you discomfort. Your chiropractor needs to understand the full scope of your history, including any medications you may be taking or surgeries you may have had. All of these factors will impact the type of adjustment you will receive.

Additionally, you will be required to thoroughly explain your symptoms and the reason for your visit. For instance, if you are complaining of lower back pain , then your chiropractor will focus on that area.

Chiropractic adjustment performed

After you have explained your prior history and symptoms, your chiropractor will perform an adjustment. Through manual manipulation of the spine, the chiropractor will feel for any areas of misalignment that may be causing your discomfort.

Once your chiropractor identifies a problem area, they will then realign the point of discomfort through a quick yet firm adjustment. Although it may look and sound dangerous, a certified chiropractor knows exactly how much pressure to apply and what area to treat. The popping sound you may hear immediately after the adjustment is simply the release of gases from the joint, which in turn will reduce the pressure and relieve discomfort.

Post-visit requirements

After receiving a chiropractic adjustment, your muscles and bones become stimulated, causing them to release toxins. In order to flush out the toxins, you should drink plenty of water immediately after an adjustment and for the next few days.

Additionally, you should keep moving and stay physically active after an adjustment. While you may think it’s best to rest and give your body a break, the opposite is quite true. Staying active will ensure your body does not revert to the misalignment that caused you to seek chiropractic care in the first place.

However, make sure to be careful while moving about. You don’t want to reinjure yourself or cause your muscles to spasm by overdoing it immediately after an adjustment. While it’s best to engage in light activity, especially the first few days after your appointment, make sure to do it carefully.

Finally, ensure you get enough sleep each night. This is especially important after an adjustment, so you don’t lose the physical benefits you achieved. Getting enough sleep will also encourage your body to naturally realign, and a proper amount of rest will give your muscles and bones the chance to heal themselves from the physical activity of the day.

Book your first adjustment

Are you ready to schedule your first chiropractic adjustment? If so, visit us at Kilian Chiropractic, located in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Our certified chiropractors will meet with you to learn about your treatment goals and develop a plan that meets your schedule.