Aligned Health
Come for relief, stay for wellness
What to Expect- Your First Visit
On your first visit, you will meet our staff and fill out brief paperwork, and describe yourself, your health history, and any current issues you may be experiencing. Anticipate arriving 5 minutes before your scheduled appointment to complete the necessary paperwork, relax, and get accustomed to the office. The first visit generally takes about 45 minutes to complete, but may vary depending on your health history, reason for presentation, and complexity of your complaint.
The Consultation
You will meet Dr. Bischoff, who will review your health history and ask you questions regarding your current complaint. These questions are designed to get to the root of the problem and determine if yours is a chiropractic case or if other health care providers are needed. If your issues are able to be addressed with chiropractic care, Dr. Breanna will continue with an examination. If not, a referral to the proper health provider will be made.
The Examination
When it has been determined that chiropractic care would be beneficial, an examination is needed. The exam may vary from person to person depending on your past medical history and current complaint, but standard physical, orthopedic, neurological, and chiropractic testing will be performed to determine the causes of your problem and any complicating factors.
Dr. Breanna will study the way you walk, bend, and move. She may test your reflexes or touch areas of your skin that correspond to nerve roots found exiting your spine. She will also look at and palpate your muscles and curves of your spine to determine if there are any malpositions of the vertebrae or ribs.
X-rays
Occasionally, views must be taken to visualize the location of any spinal or joint problems, reveal pathology, or make your care more precise. At this time, Aligned Health is not equipped with x-ray technology and will refer you to another facility if x-rays are necessary for treatment. If you have x-ray or imaging studies from another facility, it may be helpful to bring those films to your first appointment.
Treatment
Based on the information from your consultation and examination, Dr. Breanna will determine a plan of care to address any issues you have or specific goals for care. Dr. Breanna will discuss these findings with you and answer any questions you have. She will make sure you fully understand the nature and severity of your condition, what we will be doing to help you, and what you can and should do to help yourself heal optimally. She welcomes all feedback, so ask questions.
Treatment will consist of spinal manipulative treatment, also known as an adjustment. An adjustment is a carefully controlled impulse given to the spine or another joint for the purpose of restoring motion and normalizing nervous system function. Adjustments may be given with the doctor's hands, called a manual adjustment. Adjustments may be given using the table for increased speed. This is called drop-piece adjusting. Sometimes, a recoil instrument known as an Activator may be used or foam wedges will be used to position you. More than one style may be used to adjust your spine on the same visit depending on your condition, and different styles may be used on different visits based on your condition at that time.
For the purpose of the adjustment, you will lie on the adjusting table, either face up or face down depending on the area to be treated. Dr. Breanna will look at the area for redness, evidence of swelling, and changes in the soft tissues. She will use her hands to feel for any misalignments in the position of the joints or tenderness in the nearby muscles. Ask questions at any time. Feel free to talk during your adjustments, if you like, or remain silent. Your eyes may be open or closed during your treatment- whatever makes you comfortable. Listen to the healing wisdom of your body.
Adjunctive Procedures
Depending on the nature of your complaint, Dr. Breanna may advise the use of other procedures that could decrease your discomfort or otherwise benefit you. In-office procedures may consist of electrical stimulation to areas of complaint, therapeutic ultrasound, rehabilitative therapy, nutrition, orthotics, trigger point therapy, dry needling, cupping, or acupuncture. At-home activities may include the use of ice or heat, therapeutic exercise, stretching, trigger point compression, and modification to work or home life. Dr. Breanna will instruct you on the proper postures to use and other patient education to assist with the healing process.
Visit Conclusion
Your first visit is complete. Dr. Breanna will make recommendations as to treatment frequency based on her clinical experience treating others with similar issues. Home care advice will help to reinforce your initial adjustments. As you progress, subsequent visits will be shorter as you will have less spinal, muscular, and nervous system dysfunction. The typical follow up visit length is 15 minutes. If you require more time or develop a new condition that requires additional time, be sure to mention that when you schedule your following visits. We look forward to seeing you at your first appointment with us! If you have any questions, call our office or visit the"Contact Us"page of our website.