1. Patient History and Symptoms

In preparation for the chiropractic consultation, the patient will be asked to fill out forms that provide background information about their symptoms and condition.

2. The Chiropractic Exam

A thorough chiropractic exam includes general tests, such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and reflexes. Specific orthopedic and neurological tests may also be used to assess the:

• Range of motion of the affected body part(s)

• Muscle tone

• Muscle strength

• Neurological integrity

Further chiropractic tests may be necessary to assess the affected area, such as having the patient move in a specific manner, posture analysis, or assess motion of the affected body part.

3. Patient Diagnosis

Findings from the patient’s history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests usually help the chiropractor to arrive at a specific diagnosis. Once the diagnosis is established, the chiropractor can determine if the condition will respond to chiropractic care, because certain conditions--such as fractures, tumors, or infections--may not be treated with chiropractic methods and typically require a specialist physician’s treatment.

At the end of the patient's initial visit, the chiropractor will explain the patient's:

• Diagnosed condition

• Individualized chiropractic treatment plan

• Anticipated length of chiropractic care

Gonstead technique

Hands-on technique often involves adjusting the low back or pelvis as the patient lies on his side. Chiropractic use it to realign joints, reduce pain and stiffness, and increase mobility.

Activator technique

A handheld adjusting instrument delivers a gentle impulse into the vertebral segments of the spine, or the extremities. The force feels like a light thumping sensation when used to treat everything from low back pain to certain types of headaches, like migraines. “It is very comfortable to the patient and an excellent choice for seniors”.

Flexion distraction

Also called Cox Technic or decompression manipulation, it’s used in more than half of all chiropractic clinics, and a method of choice when treating disc herniations, facet joint pain, scoliosis and other conditions.

Thompson, or drop table, technique

This involves a specially adapted table with padded platforms designed to drop a fraction of an inch when the chiropractor applies a quick thrust to make an adjustment. The subtle dropping motion, which patients feel as vibration, makes it very comfortable for most patients. It can be used for the spine or extremities.

Diversified technique

Also employed to adjust the spine and extremities. It’s considered the most widely used technique involving very precise hands-on thrusts aimed at restoring proper movement and alignment to the spine.

Ktape

Kinesiology taping (KT) is a therapeutic tool developed by Japanaese Chiropractor Dr. Kenzo Kase in the 1970's with the intention to alleviate pain and improve the healing in soft tissues. There are many proposed benefits to KT, including: proprioceptive facilitation, reduced muscle fatigue, muscle facilitation, reduced delayed-onset muscle soreness, pain inhibition, enhanced healing such as reducing oedema and improvement of lymphatic drainage and blood flow.