From your first conversation to your first adjustment: how we find the root cause and tailor care to you
If you've been thinking about seeing a chiropractor but aren't sure what to expect, you're in good company. Maybe you've never been. Maybe you've watched videos of dramatic cracking and popping online and wondered whether that's really what happens.
At Village Park Health Centre, your first visit is built around one goal: finding the root cause of your concern so we can do the right thing for you. Here's how it works.
Arriving and talking through your health history
When you arrive, our assistant, Ann-Marie, will check you in and gather anything else we need. Because you'll have filled out our online intake forms ahead of time, we can get straight to the conversation. I'll bring you into the assessment room, review what you've told us, and talk about what brought you in. We call this your health history.
Pain is a common reason people come to see us, but it's far from the only one. Some people want to perform better in a sport. Some are on a health journey and want to function better in their daily lives. Some have no pain at all but don't like the posture they've developed from work or life. Your goals shape the exam, which is why I ask so many questions.
In our office, we see the nervous system as the control center for everything in your body. Nerves carry messages from your body to your brain, and your brain responds in ways meant to protect you. Sometimes that means restricting your movement, creating pain, or changing your posture. Understanding the whole picture helps us find the root of your concern rather than only addressing the symptom.
Your examination
We start with a computer scan called the Insight Millennium, which gives us information about inflammation in your tissues, nerve function, and muscle tone and imbalance. The results show me where to focus.
From there, I perform a physical exam tailored to you and your concerns. Depending on your situation, it can include:
- Orthopedic tests
- Range-of-motion testing
- Postural analysis
- Muscle strength testing
- Palpation of your spine and any areas of concern
We don't guess. We test, so every recommendation we make is based on what we actually find.
X-rays
Most of our new patients have X-rays. They let us connect your exam findings to the structure of your spine, which helps us reach an objective diagnosis and build a plan that fits you. Not everyone needs one, but we've found them to be one of the most useful tools we have.
X-rays often show us things that an exam alone can't, such as:
- Scoliosis (curvature of the spine)
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoporosis (loss of bone density)
- Bone spurs
I recently found a compression fracture in a patient who had no idea it was there. It dated back to a tobogganing accident seven years earlier. Their main complaint? The same area, aggravated while gardening.
Your report of findings
Once we have your exam, scan, and X-ray results, you'll come back for a visit we call the Report of Findings. I'll explain what we found, show you what's causing your concern, and give you my recommendations. They're based on the objective findings and on what you told us you want to achieve.
How much care you need depends on your goals, your findings, and 25 years of experience helping people reach theirs. It's a collaboration, and you'll have the information you need to decide what happens next. If another provider, like a physiotherapist or massage therapist, can support your care alongside ours, I'll tell you that too.
Your first adjustment
Your first visit never includes an adjustment, and that's intentional. Before I treat anything, I want to know the root cause of your problem and be confident that chiropractic can help you.
Once we know that, and you understand the plan and are comfortable moving ahead, we begin. Before every adjustment, I explain each step so there are no surprises.
If you're nervous about being adjusted
That's very common, and it's something we plan for. You're always in the driver's seat. If you don't want a particular area adjusted, we listen and respect that. Often we introduce care gradually, making small changes over several visits so your body has time to accept the adjustment.
I'm also trained in several gentle techniques. If you don't like the sound of adjustments, or you're picturing the twisting and popping you've seen on social media, there are approaches that get the same results without the drama. We'll choose what works best for you.
Bring your questions
I see myself as an educator, and there's a lot of misinformation about chiropractic out there. I welcome every question. Many people show me a video they've seen and ask, "Is this really what chiropractic is?" We often have a good laugh about the sensational stuff that's out there.
If you've been putting off that first appointment because you're not sure what will happen, know that you'll never be rushed or surprised. We'll take the time to explain what we find and how chiropractic can help you specifically, and we're always looking for ways to make the experience better and less stressful. Come with your questions, and we'll take it from there.