First Time Visit to a Chiropractor - What to Expect

Your friend or family has nagged you to book in with their chiropractor so you finally do it. Now what? You've never been to a chiropractor before. The unknown can be scary and make you feel anxious. "Will treatment hurt?", "What do you need to wear to the appointment?", "Will things be awkward?". These are just some of the many questions I'm sure that have crossed your mind when you've booked yourself in for the first time to see a chiropractor (or any other health professional). And these are all very reasonable questions! So what CAN you expect when you visit the chiropractor for the first time? Let's break down what you'll get at our clinic:

1. A warm greeting. Yes, this may seem very simple but we prioritize your comfort here at Nurture Family Chiropractic. You will be greeted by Dr. Brenda Yee and guided to the private assessment room where your initial exam will begin.    
2. An explanation of the overview of your exam (history, physical, report of findings, treatment). This way, there is no guessing what will be coming up next. 
3. History exam. This is the part where you can explain to Dr. Brenda how your pain has been affecting your daily life. She will ask you questions like, "How long have you had this pain?", "What does the pain feel like?", "Does the pain travel anywhere else in your body?", "How often are you experiencing this pain?". These are some of the critical questions that will help narrow down the possible diagnoses.
4. Physical exam. This is when you will actually be physically moving around, either actively on your own with specific instructions (ex. Instruction: "turn your head to the left") or with the guidance of Dr. Brenda (ex. Dr. Brenda lifts your arm up for you). This part of the exam is very useful for figuring out exactly which structures in your body are causing your pain and/or are affected by your pain. 
5. Report of Findings. This is when you get a diagnosis. The results of the exam are explained to you so that you can understand how and why you have pain. This part usually ends up being a great discussion about your diagnosis and what options of treatment are available to you.
6. Treatment. The part you've likely been waiting for. You can expect a combination of muscle work, gentle joint movements, and practical rehabilitation exercises to practice in the clinic and also take home. Some other treatments that are available include acupuncture, cupping, scraping, yoga therapy and kinesiotaping to name a few. 
7. Follow up instructions on what to do after treatment. Most injuries require more than one treatment to recover. Dr. Brenda will build a personalized treatment protocol for your specific injury using the least number of treatments necessary. That's right, no ridiculously long treatment plans. We understand how valuable your time is and results are what we aim for.

If you've been recommended to see a chiropractor or have been curious about how a chiropractor can help you out with your pain, visit Dr. Brenda Yee at Nurture Family Chiropractic in Guelph. Book today to see the difference it can make for you.
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By the way, you can wear anything you are comfortable moving around in to your first appointment at Nurture Family Chiropractic in Guelph.