Family Chiropractic Clinic

First visit… What to expect

Your first visit to our clinic is one of the most important visits.  This visit allow us to determine the nature of your condition and if chiropractic can help.  Your first visit usually takes about one hour.

After arriving to the clinic, you will be asked to fill out forms that provide background information about the symptoms, your current health status, and general information on your condition.

Patients are also usually asked to provide information on their family medical history, any pre-existing medical conditions or prior injuries, and previous and current health providers and treatments.

THE EXAM

The doctor will perform an exam to determine the nature and extent of your condition. This exam will include an orthopedic exam; neurological exam, and chiropractic exam focused on muscle spasm, range of motion of injured area and spastic joint motion.

After the exam, the doctor will decide if x-rays of the area of complaint are needed, because imaging is not always necessary. The purpose of imaging is to help the doctor have more tools to accurately diagnose your condition.  Other diagnostic studies include referral for MRI or CT Scan. 

Our clinic also has staff privileges at three local hospitals: St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd, Cuyuna Medical Center in Crosby, and Lakewood Hospital in Staples. We can also order MRI's and CT scans at these locations if your condition requires it. A benefit of these privileges is that both a medical radiologist and a chiropractor read and assess imaging performed.

Decisions are then made regarding your condition and if Chiropractic care will benefit you.

THE TREATMENT

Adjustments are done by applying a specific force in a certain direction into the body, and the result is restored motion of spinal bones. There are many techniques that we are able to perform at our clinic.  Adjustments can be applied directly to the joints with hands only, or with a small instrument called an Activator. The Flexion/Distraction and Thompson drop techniques are also available in our clinic. With an adjustment, you may hear a popping noise, resulting from gas and lubricating fluids in the spinal joints shifting. Often there is soft tissue involvement, so our clinic provides many options to be used in conjunction with a Chiropractic adjustment.  Treatment may also include some of the following:

• Ultrasound
• Massage
• Electrical Muscle Stimulation
• Trigger Point Therapy
• Ice
• Heat
• Exercise Instruction
• Stretching Instruction
• Exercise ball strength training
• Acupuncture
  

At the end of your visit, your doctor will go over a course of treatment for your condition.  This will include the number of treatments and type of treatment, which vary with each individual's condition.

The main side effect of treatment is usually temporary soreness, comparable to working out for the first time.  This soreness is not unusual and if it is extreme, patients are encouraged to contact the treating doctor. We recommend using ice after your first treatment.

As always, our goal is to provide quality chiropractic care with integrity.  Feel free to ask all the questions you need.  We find that if the patient is more informed, response to the treatment is often faster.