I get this question a lot when I first meet people when they ask what I do for a living. I get where their curiosity comes from because let’s face it; the more informed you are about the choices you are making in regards to your health, the better.
A first visit typically lasts about 40 minutes in duration and I will explain why because many people find that hard to believe.
It starts with your paperwork – which talks about your current health concern (how it happened, what you are feeling, what you have done for your pain, any other providers you have seen etc), your past health history (any previous diagnosis, ongoing treatments for other conditions, any previous traumatic injuries, other health conditions etc) and a consent for treatment which outlines some of the health risks and benefits of Chiropractic care. These forms usually take about 10-15 minutes to fill out.
I then go over your intake with you and ask more follow up questions related to your current concern as well as your past history. I also touch on your current lifestyle and if there is any correlation to some of your health concerns. If you have any questions about Chiropractic this is usually the time I address them. This little interview takes about 30 minutes, sometimes longer if there is a lot more health concerns to discuss. The feedback patients give me is that I am really thorough and they forgot some of their injuries that happened 20 years ago that are contributing to what is going on currently. The more you can remember about your past and current health history the easier it is for me to find the root cause of your concern(s).
I then do a thorough physical exam in regards to your specific area of concern; neck, low back, shoulder, ankle etc. The exam consists of range of motion tests, orthopedic tests, neurological testing, muscle testing and sometimes depending if I see red flags (and sometimes yellow flags) I will refer out for a set of X-rays to rule out any major issues such as fractures, pathologies etc. If I find that I need some lab tests I refer patients out for that. If patients have had recent labs, X-rays, diagnostic testing – I always get their request to contact their physician(s) to get the reports or some patients come to the office with this information! This process usually takes around 15-20 minutes.
As you can see, with the amount of information we discuss together this first visit can last well up to an hour! I find it’s important that my patients take the time to communicate what their health concerns and goals are so we can build a better therapeutic relationship to help maximize the benefit of your Chiropractic care.
If you would like to schedule an appointment with me click here to book online for a Chiropractic appointment in Winnipeg.
