Has it been a while since you last saw a chiropractor? Or perhaps you’ve never had a chiropractic adjustment? Then you’ve probably got a few questions about the chiropractic treatment process and how it works.
Below, the experts at Bomberg Chiropractic in Plymouth, MN share answers to some of the most common questions about what to expect when you visit a chiropractor.
1. How Do I Know If I Need Chiropractic Care?
If you’re like most people, you can benefit from chiropractic care. Even if you don’t suffer from acute or chronic aches and pains, chiropractic care is an excellent way to maintain overall wellness.
In fact, chiropractic wellness care is specifically designed to help your body maintain optimal wellness by proactively addressing spinal misalignments before they develop into painful issues. With wellness care, your chiropractor performs periodic treatments to help prevent mobility issues rather than addressing painful conditions after they’ve already occurred.
If you’re currently suffering from acute or chronic back pain, neck pain, or joint mobility issues, chances are you need chiropractic. If you’ve never visited a chiropractor before, your first visit will consist of a thorough consultation and evaluation to determine what type of care you can benefit from.
Check out our blog on the Top 10 Reasons to See a Chiropractor to learn more.
2. What Should I Expect During My Initial Consultation?
Your first visit to a chiropractor includes a thorough consultation to assess your current condition and determine which treatments are best suited to your unique needs.
During this appointment, you can expect:
● A thorough chiropractic exam. This may involve x-rays, palpation of various areas, reflex analysis, posture analysis, range of motion testing, a medical history, and a series of questions to diagnose your condition and determine your needs. Other types of diagnostic testing may also be included in this exam.
● An initial treatment. Depending on the chiropractor and the results of your exam, you may receive an adjustment or soft tissue manipulation during your first appointment.
● Take-home advice. As part of your treatment plan, your chiropractor will likely give you advice for maintaining the results of your adjustment or take-home exercises to enhance the treatment and improve your range of motion.
3. Is Chiropractic Care Covered by Insurance?
Chiropractic clinics typically accept many different types of insurance; however, you must review your benefits to determine if your policy will help cover the cost of care. Furthermore, you must verify whether a particular provider is in-network with your plan, as that will determine whether you have coverage at a specific clinic.
Often, chiropractic offices also offer payment plans to suit most, if not all, budgets. And in many cases — especially if your plan has a high deductible or copay — using insurance may not be in your best interest. Even if an office doesn’t take your insurance or you’re a cash-pay patient, treatment can be highly affordable.
At Bomberg Chiropractic, we’re in-network with a limited number of providers and offer several ways to pay for treatment. Check out our payment options for more information on the providers we accept and other ways you can cover the cost of your care.
4. What Is a Chiropractic Adjustment? Is It Painful?
A chiropractic adjustment is a highly specialized, non-invasive procedure during which a chiropractor uses his hands or a specialized instrument to apply controlled force to a joint.
This rapidly applied, precise force helps move the joint back into proper alignment. Even a single adjustment can help improve mobility and reduce discomfort associated with spinal and other joint misalignments. However, repeat adjustments are usually necessary as part of a prescribed course of treatment for acute or chronic conditions.
Typically, chiropractic adjustments are painless. However, you may experience minor discomfort after the treatment is complete.
Keep in mind that your individual discomfort threshold is the major determining factor in whether you’ll feel any pain. The vast majority of patients leave the office feeling better than they did upon arriving.
5. How Many Visits Will I Need to Feel Better?
The number of chiropractic care visits you’ll need to improve your condition and alleviate discomfort is highly individual. Your chiropractor will develop a comprehensive care plan for you after your initial visit, which details the number and frequency of treatments you’ll need.
Periodic wellness treatments can also be highly beneficial both for identifying and addressing emerging issues and keeping mobility and other functional impairments at bay.
6. What’s Included as Part of Each Visit?
In addition to chiropractic adjustments, your care plan may include other treatments to enhance results, such as:
● TENS therapy
● Movement-based massage
● Kinesio taping
Keep in mind that even after your plan of care is complete, you should continue visiting your chiropractor periodically to maintain your treatment results. For many people, scheduling periodic treatments over an extended period is the best way to maintain mobility, range of motion, and optimal joint function.
For more info on the benefits of ongoing treatment, check out Chiropractic Wellness Treatment: Essential Care for Long-Term Spine Health.
7. What Happens If I Miss a Visit?
If you miss a visit, it’s not the end of the world; your treatment results won’t disappear overnight.
That said, we highly recommend attending all of your visits according to the care plan your chiropractor designs for you. Regular adjustments and soft tissue manipulation are necessary to achieve optimal results.
8. Do Chiropractors Prescribe Medication for Pain?
No, chiropractors do not prescribe pain medication. Chiropractic care is a completely natural, non-invasive form of medicine for treating joint pain and mobility issues.
While chiropractic is a highly effective alternative therapy for both acute and chronic pain, it can also complement the results of more conventional treatments.
9. Can Children Get Chiropractic Treatments?
Absolutely! Chiropractic care is safe for kids of all ages — even infants. And routine chiropractic care can be highly beneficial for active children since regular adjustments can help maintain normal, healthy spinal alignment.
Kids, especially young ones, are always moving, and that’s excellent. But running, jumping, twisting, falling down — all of the activities kids do on a daily basis can encourage joints to move out of their normal alignment. They can also cause muscle strain, which can be highly uncomfortable.
When these issues occur and are not treated, they can cause all kinds of bothersome symptoms, such as:
● Low back pain, which is often caused by a misaligned SI joint (a prevalent issue among young athletes, especially females)
● Neck pain, which can result from cervical misalignments or muscle strain, both of which a chiropractor can effectively treat
● Headaches
Children can also undergo chiropractic treatments for scoliosis, which can be especially beneficial if the condition is detected and treated in its early stages. Even adolescents with more advanced scoliosis can benefit greatly from regular chiropractic care.
10. Is Chiropractic Care Safe for People Who’ve Suffered a Concussion?
Generally, yes. However, each case is unique. If you’re worried you or someone you love has suffered a concussion, a comprehensive medical exam is necessary to diagnose the condition. It’ll also rule out serious brain injury that may require further imaging, tests, or emergency treatment.
Many adults, kids, and student-athletes who suffer concussions benefit from chiropractic care and ongoing treatment.
Studies have found that chiropractic management of post-concussion symptoms via regular joint adjustments, instrument-assisted soft tissue manipulation, therapeutic exercises, and myofascial release can elicit significant improvements in:
● Blurry vision
● Vertigo and balance problems
● Nausea
● Difficulty concentrating
● Confusion and memory difficulties
● Drowsiness, fatigue, and brain fog
● Headaches
Check out 5 Chiropractic Treatment Techniques and How They Help Your Body Thrive to learn more about the techniques mentioned above.
Looking for a Chiropractor Near Plymouth, MN?
Whether you’re new to chiropractic or it’s been years since your last visit, our team at Bomberg Chiropractic would love to welcome you into our care! At our office, patients always come first. We strive to deliver highly individualized care plans designed to address each patient’s unique needs and goals of treatment.
To learn more about how we can help you or schedule an appointment, feel free to call our Plymouth, MN office today at 763-450-1755 or connect with us online, and we’ll be in touch!