This simple, short article will describe what a typical chiropractic visit is likely to be like. It will also describe the various possibilities of your chiropractic office visit, and there are many. (If you want to hear about your visit at our office, browse the rest of this site)
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You will probably get adjusted, probably by hand as opposed to with a hand-held device.
Some chiropractors use hand-held instruments, small clicking ones such as the Activator, and more powerful, perhaps pronged devices are also available. Still other chiropractors use large mechanical, computer-assisted machines to deliver extremely precise force to nowhere but your C1 transverse process. Others adjust every person the same.
Most chiropractors adjust the spine, from the top of the neck to the tailbone and hips. There are chiropractors that will only adjust the top two bones in the neck. Many chiropractors adjust your spine as well as your arm and leg joints. Still others do manual therapy on organs, or focus on the function of your brain.
Many chiropractors sell nutritional supplements and whatnot, others promote diet plans and products. Some will scan your feet to provide you custom foot orthotics.
Many chiropractors use other therapies, also called modalities, including heat, TENS (transcutaneous nerve stimulation/stim), massage or trigger point therapy, stretching and exercise, and some other things. Still, some chiropractors only adjust, and use no other therapies or modalities. And some of them only adjust the spine, not the arms or legs.
Most chiropractors will adjust your mid back with your lying face down, and your hips and low back with you lying on your side with one knee bent, and most chiropractors will adjust your neck with you laying face up. Still, other chiropractors adjust using special tables that go up and down, open and close, pop and click, angle, and tilt. Some chiropractors tables strap your ankles in. Some are electric, many are not.
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All over the place, right? Well, that’s for a reason. There are MANY different types of chiropractors out there. Really, the variation among chiropractors is huge while the variation among primary care MD’s is practically non-existent. It’s not necessarily a bad thing. At all. So, do some homework, maybe ask some friends and family, and get a chiropractor that seems like someone you would like to see somewhat regularly for a little while.