During your initial visit, your chiropractor will ask questions about the concern that brought you in, as well as your personal and family health history, lifestyle, and overall well-being. They will also screen for any “red flags,” which are signs or symptoms that may require further medical assessment.
Following the history, your chiropractor will determine whether your condition is appropriate for chiropractic care or whether another type of healthcare may be more appropriate. If chiropractic care is appropriate, a physical examination will be performed to better understand your symptoms and identify possible causes.
The physical exam may include moving you through different positions and manually examining the area of concern to better understand your symptoms. A neurological exam assessing reflexes, sensation and muscle strength is often part of the exam. This helps the chiropractor better understand how your nerves are functioning.
Does treatment happen on the first visit?
Treatment does not always occur on the first visit. Your chiropractor’s top priority is your health and safety, and a thorough assessment can require additional time. In some cases X-rays or other imaging may be recommended before moving forward with treatment.
However, if the full assessment can be completed on the first day and treatment is recommended, treatment may be provided on the same day.
What to wear and bring
Wear something you are comfortable moving around in. This allows for greater patient comfort during different parts of the physical exam.
Your chiropractor may request you wear a gown, which will be provided to you, to more easily assess the area of concern.
Pricing and payment expectations
Your appointment time is reserved just for you. A late cancellation or missed visit leaves a hole in the chiropractor’s day that could have been filled by another patient. As such, we require 24 hours notice for any cancellations or changes to your appointment. Patients who provide less than 24 hours notice, or miss their appointment, will be charged the full service amount.
Insurance and direct-billing information
We do not directly bill. Please ask for an invoice to submit to your insurance companies.
Whether a referral is required
Chiropractors are primary health care providers, meaning you do not need a referral to be seen.
Book your first visit in Etobicoke
Chiropractic on Royal York is at 1527 Royal York Rd. in Etobicoke. To get started, book an assessment online with Dr. Alex or call the clinic at (416)-248-4222.
Dr. Alex has also written about lower back pain and how long recovery takes, neck pain and its causes, and what sciatica is. You can read more about our Etobicoke clinic.
This article is general information about what to expect at a chiropractic appointment. It is not a substitute for an assessment, diagnosis, or treatment advice for your own situation.