What to Expect

Laying the foundation for total health.

In some ways, one could say that chiropractic care is a bit like building a house–certain things have to happen in a particular order in order for everything to stand strong and work together correctly. When building a house, if you tried to build your walls before you had a solid foundation, your walls would be weak and eventually may even collapse. If you tried to build your roof before the walls were ready, you would run into the same problem.

These concepts apply to your body as well, and chiropractic care addresses many common reasons why people experience pain and other health issues. If something is not right with your body’s foundation, than that needs to be addressed before true health can be achieved. With chiropractic care, your body has to go through a particular plan of care in order to repair itself correctly and fully. Below are the three general phases of chiropractic care.

Phase 1: Relief Care

If you are in pain when you come into our Palmer chiropractic office, our first objective is to help you reduce pain and start feeling better as soon as possible. Depending on the severity of the underlying condition which is causing your pain, it is typical for a patient to need chiropractic care or adjustments 2-3 times per week for 4-12 weeks.

Below is a timeline of what your first visit will entail in order to determine your relief care.

Patient Forms

Upon entering our office, our receptionist will welcome you as a member of our family. We will request that you complete our patient forms located in the New Patient Center. This paperwork provides us with your health history and information on your condition.

Consultation

Next, you will have a consultation with Dr. August Manelick, D.C. to discuss your health-related problems, concerns, and potential treatment options. This initial visit is designed for Dr. August Manelick, D.C. to learn more about you, your condition, and expectations to determine how chiropractic care can meet your goals.

Examination

After your consultation, Dr. August Manelick, D.C. will perform a complete chiropractic examination testing your reflexes and flexibility. Other standard neurological, orthopedic, postural, and physical tests will be performed as well. However, nothing will be done in our office without your consent.

X-Ray Studies

Depending on your specific condition, we may take X-rays as well. X-rays help us develop the most effective treatment plan for you, and alert us of any serious spinal conditions. Most people are amazed once they see their X-rays up close. In some cases, they can even identify their misalignments and degeneration themselves.

Report of Findings

Once the information is collected and examinations are performed, Dr. August Manelick, D.C. will give you a detailed report of all findings and answer any questions including:

  1. How can you help me?
  2. How often do I need to come in?
  3. What will my treatment cost?

After reviewing your health history, goals, and examining your spine and X-rays, Dr. August Manelick, D.C. will discuss recommendations and notify you if your condition requires care with other providers. Dr. August Manelick, D.C. will provide the best treatment and wellness program for your needs.

Treatment

At the conclusion of this initial appointment, you can choose to experience your first treatment. This may include spinal adjustments, physical therapy, and/or soft tissue massage. Treatment is interactive, so you can express concerns about the different styles of treatment anytime.

Wellness Program

Prior to leaving, the doctor will suggest a wellness program to incorporate outside of treatment. If you are in pain when you first come into our office this may include: ice or heat application instructions, certain activities or positions to avoid, and at home exercises and/or stretches. If you desire, our wellness team will work with you also to create healthy habits and routines for your lifestyle. Every person is unique, therefore everyone requires a customized wellness plan. The purpose of our wellness program is for you to achieve good spinal alignment, have a healthy diet, exercise, and maintain a positive mental state.

Phase 2: Corrective/Restorative Care

During the corrective phase of chiropractic care, muscles and other tissues are allowed to heal more completely, which helps prevent further injury or pain. The goal of corrective or restorative chiropractic care is to help bring your body back to 100% functioning. It is typical to need chiropractic care or adjustments about 4-8 times per month for 6-24 months, depending on your overall health and the severity of your problem.

Phase 3: Wellness Care

Once your body has fully healed and you are no longer experiencing back pain or other pain symptoms, it is important to come in for periodic chiropractic adjustments to avoid further problems in the future. Usually, this phase of chiropractic care only requires a quick visit to the chiropractor 1-4 times per month, based on your lifestyle and goals.