What Can I expect at my first visit?
Have you ever been nervous walking in to a doctor’s office? I have.
Going to the chiropractor is a little different though. An office where healing is primary for both the patient and doctor, with more emphasis on internal and natural solutions to problems as opposed to external or pharmacological interventions. During your first trip to Triangle Chiropractic, you’ll be moving, learning, and growing throughout your treatment, whether you visit the Cary NC or Durham NC locations.
Triangle Chiropractic’s first patient appointment is typically about one hour, so as soon as the intake paperwork is finished, you will be invited into the treatment room and given the time you need to discuss and ask questions about the problem that brings you in to the office. What happened to cause the main issue? Is it causing any pain? Is it back pain? Is it neck pain? If not, great! We treat all types of issues, noted in our blog post “Types of conditions we treat”
The history portion of the exam is the most crucial and important to your care, and determining what brings you in to the office. This will also guide our expectations for treatment. Since we customize each care plan to the individual, we can’t generally say “how long does it take for chiropractic to work”. We are not your ‘typical chiropractors’, and we provide much more than adjustments as part of our care.
After the history phase of the exam, the doctors will walk you through functional movement examinations. During this part of your visit, our doctors determine if there are any limitations or restrictions which may be contributing to the overall issue. From the head to the toes, the key to the exam is experience – seeing these movements tens of thousands of times, having a consistent criteria of what to look for, and being picky when something doesn’t match up. To do this, we used standardized methods such as the SFMA (Selective Functional Movement Assessment), FMS (Functional Movement Systems), muscle testing, and much more. These systems give the doctors at Triangle Chiropractic more information to look into later, and helps us see where the problem is originating from.
During this portion of the exam, the doctor is also likely performing orthopedic tests. An orthopedic test is a test used to diagnose a specific condition affecting the musculoskeletal system. Examples of these conditions include rotator cuff disorders, meniscus injuries, muscle strains, and other conditions which classify conditions into known entities. We know that a frozen shoulder condition takes longer to heal than a strained deltoid. Can a chiropractor treat frozen shoulder? YES! These tests are important because it is what differentiates your care from one method to another. It also shows how Dr. Google can easily get a condition like non-specific low back pain mixed up with a tumor, and why if you’re in Durham, NC or Cary NC, you give Triangle Chiropractic a call for your full evaluation. Call to get set up today! 919-544-4663
After ruling out any red flags (cancer, cauda equina syndrome, stroke) the doctor will proceed with treatment of the condition. Treatment typically consists of different methods of releasing muscles, adjusting, or creating movement in the affected joint (if required), and re-testing the affecting area post treatment.
Some of the methods our doctors use to help release muscle tension include Active Release Technique, graston, and dry needling just to name a few. Active release technique is similar to a deep tissue massage, but is utilized and recognized by most top sporting professionals as one of the most effective muscle techniques ever developed. Graston is a modality which uses a gua sha, or rounded steel object which can be glided along the affect area with slight tension in the muscle. Dry needling is a method similar to acupuncture, in that an acupuncture needle is placed directly into an affected muscle in order to promote micro- contracures in muscles and improve blood flow to the affected area.
Typically on your first visit, the doctor may or may not prescribe helpful tools, or functional exercises to assist the healing and recovery phase of care, but that part will inevitably occur early in the treatment process. The exercises are specific to the findings from your initial exam, and may also take some digestion by the doctor to formulate a comprehensive plan to implement into your movement routine.
After the treatment, modalities such as electric stimulation, traction tables, and massage chairs are utilized to promote pain reduction and relaxation. These are often referred to as “the best part” by some of our other patients. Modalities such as ice or heat may also be implemented, depending on the treatment and location of the complaint.
The final step in the first visit is checkout and re-scheduling with the best front desk staff in the triangle. This is when you will book you next appointment/s and pay for the services rendered during your visit. At Triangle chiropractic, most insurances are accepted and cash options are also available. If you have any questions regarding your first trip to Triangle Chiropractic, please message us on instagram, facebook, send an email to info@trianglechiropractic.com, or call our office at 919-544-4663 today!
Sharing is one of the best ways to show you care for your friends and family. If you know anybody who may benefit from Chiropractic care, let them know we are ther for them! They may be scared and unsure of what to do next. However, once they are able to understand their condition, and that conservative care is their best option, they will be able to make a smart decision about their health! This entry was posted in and tagged by Rob Eyerly.
