If you have never had a chiropractic adjustment, it is normal to feel apprehensive. Naples Community Injury Center provides a relaxed, professional setting where you receive expert care from licensed chiropractors and trained physiotherapists. We use evidence-based chiropractic techniques to treat various conditions and symptoms.
This article will discuss what you can expect from your first chiropractic adjustment appointment.
How Your First Appointment May Go
Everyone is different, so what we do in a first appointment may vary. Usually, it entails:
Physical Examination
The first step in any chiropractic treatment plan is establishing the source of the problem. Our physicians may ask you to perform a series of motions to gauge your mobility and pain level. They may also examine the site of the issue to ascertain whether there is swelling, bruising, or other medical concerns that could affect your treatment plan.
Diagnostic Imaging
If your injuries are not immediately apparent, we will often conduct an X-ray to gauge the condition and location of the problem. Also, since pain can radiate from the source to other areas of the body, X-rays and other imaging methods can help us determine the most effective treatments.
X-ray imaging allows us to adjust the intensity and location of the chiropractic adjustment. If your condition requires more detailed imaging, we may refer you to a healthcare practitioner for computer tomography (CT) scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Medical Records Review
If you have previous medical history relating to the injury, we will review your records and consult your treating physician, if appropriate. Our goal is to provide optimal chiropractic care, tailoring your treatment regimen to your specific medical needs.
If our diagnostics or record review presents any serious health concerns outside our specialization, we can also refer you to the appropriate physician. We can work with them to ensure you receive the treatment you need.
Establishing a Treatment Plan
Once we have confirmed the source of your pain, whether it is an injury or a chronic medical condition, we create a treatment plan. Our licensed chiropractic physicians are well-versed in different chiropractic adjustment methods, which allows us to select the right method for your needs.
Depending on your condition, we may suggest a combination of chiropractic care and physiotherapy treatment.
Spinal Manipulation
Spinal manipulation is the type of treatment you typically hear about when discussing chiropractic adjustments. During spinal manipulation, a chiropractor realigns the joints of your spine to relieve pressure on nerves and surrounding tissues.
According to Scientific Reports, spinal manipulation can alter how your brain processes pain, thereby reducing discomfort. It can also help improve mobility.
Depending on your injury’s sensitivity and location, the chiropractor may use their hands or a chiropractic device to perform the adjustment. The chiropractor may ask you to lay or sit in a particular position. They will then apply high-velocity, low-amplitude thrusting pressure to the affected spinal joint.
Reflex Therapy
Reflex therapy, also called reflexology, is a gentle chiropractic method that uses pressure points in the feet and hands to relieve pain. Fundamentally, reflexology is based on the principle that all parts of the body are connected. The technique is often used to relieve pain and promote circulation in injured areas. In turn, it helps the patient to heal and relieves discomfort.
Physiotherapy Treatments
Following chiropractic treatment, your plan may call for physiotherapy to promote healing. Immediately after a chiropractic adjustment, you may undergo one or more of the following physiotherapy treatments:
- Massage therapy: A licensed massage therapist will manually apply pressure to the muscles around the injury site. Massage therapy improves circulation, relaxes tense muscles, releases nerve compression, increases flexibility and range of motion, and heals scar tissue.
- Electrical stimulation: We will apply electrodes around the affected area and deliver low-voltage magnetic waves to reduce pain and enhance healing.
- Resistance training: Your plan may call for a physical therapy regimen with strengthening exercises and stretches. The goal of resistance training is to enhance your mobility and strengthen the affected muscles.
Depending on your condition, you may not begin strength training or other physiotherapy treatments until your healing is well underway. To ensure that your treatment plan is effective, we continuously review and modify your plan to ensure optimal effectiveness.
What to Expect After Your First Chiropractic Adjustment
It is not unusual to have unusual symptoms after your first chiropractic adjustment. Although the adjustment process may seem passive, your chiropractor is actively moving your bones and muscles into new positions.
Per Mayo Clinic, an adjustment can therefore create some minor side effects within a few days, including pain or tenderness near the adjusted site, headache, and fatigue. The side effects are temporary, and you should not worry about them unless they are severe or last more than a few days.
How to Alleviate Side Effects After Your First Chiropractic Adjustment
Reduce some of the post-adjustment side effects with these tips:
- Drink plenty of water.
- Eat healthy food.
- Apply moist heat to tense muscles.
- Rest your body.
- Engage in regular gentle movement.
- Do not sit still for a long time.
- Get enough sleep.
- Avoid heavy lifting or strenuous exercise.
- Do not twist or turn your back suddenly.
- Focus on maintaining good posture.
Our team will also provide you with detailed instructions during your first and subsequent appointments, so you know how to care for yourself after chiropractic adjustments and physiotherapy treatments.
Contact Naples Community Injury Center to Learn More
At Naples Community Injury Center, we offer outstanding chiropractic and physiotherapy care for patients with a wide range of health conditions and injuries. Our goal is to provide a welcoming, safe environment where our patients receive personalized support throughout the recovery and rehabilitation process.
Call (239) 631-5445 to schedule an appointment and learn more about what to expect from your first chiropractic adjustment.
