Most people are a little nervous before a first appointment with a chiropractor, and most of the nerves come from not knowing what will happen. So here it is in order. At Restore & Move a New Patient Consultation is two visits, not one, and treatment does not start until you have heard what we found and agreed a plan.
That structure is deliberate. The first time you visit the clinic we focus on finding the root cause of your issues and how we can help you get better, and that takes a proper examination rather than a quick look and a click.
Before you come
Book online or call the clinic; you do not need a GP referral. There is free parking in the courtyard outside the door on Bryanstone Walk, Talbot Woods, which is just off Bryanstone Road between Talbot Woods and Winton. Allow a few minutes to find it the first time.
Wear something you can move in: a t-shirt and leggings, shorts or loose trousers are ideal. If you have had scans, X-rays or a recent letter from a consultant or GP about the problem, bring them or have them on your phone. Write down any medication you take, and think about when the problem started and what makes it better or worse; those two answers tell us a lot.
Visit one: the examination
The first appointment usually lasts around thirty minutes. It opens with a conversation about your health history and the complaint that brought you in. Then your chiropractor thoroughly reviews your overall health and spinal condition in relation to your primary complaint and carries out a series of diagnostic tests. In our clinic that includes:
- A review of your health history
- A neurological and orthopaedic examination
- Digital posture analysis
- Gait analysis, which looks at how you walk
- Vitality tests, including heart rate variability
- Balance and weight distribution
- Ribcage expansion
Why so many tests?
Because the painful spot is often not the cause. A sore lower back can be compensating for a hip that does not move well; headaches can trace back to the neck and shoulders. The posture scan and the gait analysis show how you are actually holding and moving yourself, which is different from how it feels from the inside, and the balance and vitality tests give a baseline we can measure against later.
As you continue through your care these tests are repeated to monitor your progress, so improvement is something we can show you rather than something you have to take on trust.
Visit two: the report of findings
The second visit is shorter and is where you get your answers. Your chiropractor goes through the findings from your first visit: an explanation of what we have found regarding your complaint, the results of the vitality tests, and your chiropractic care plan, including what we can do to help and what you can do to support yourself. There is time for questions, and you should leave understanding what is going on and what the plan is.
The plan is specific to you. Based on the information collected, a customised treatment plan is created to best suit your needs, and the length of your care plan is decided at this point, based on what we found and what you want to achieve. Nothing is open-ended.
Your first adjustment
If you are happy with everything discussed, we can go ahead and begin your care with your first adjustment in that same second visit. An adjustment is a specific, targeted movement applied to a joint to improve its mobility. It is quick, and for most people it is comfortable; some notice a clicking or popping sound, which is gas releasing from the joint rather than anything structural. Your chiropractor will explain each step before doing it, and you can ask to stop at any point.
Mild soreness afterwards, a little like the day after exercise, is common and passes within a day or so. Drink water, keep moving gently and follow whatever exercises you were given.
What people say about the first visit
Patients consistently mention two things in their reviews: that the first visit was thorough, and that everything was explained clearly. One described being impressed from the very first visit by the thorough approach and genuine care, and by having the treatment process explained before a plan was made. Another said that after the very first session he knew he was in good hands because of the attention to detail and the reassurance that came with it.
Common questions
Do I need a referral? No, you can book directly. Can I bring someone? Yes, and babies and children are welcome. Is there parking? Yes, free, right outside. Can I come in the evening? Yes, we are open until 8pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays and on Saturday until 3pm. Will you treat me on the first visit? Not normally; the first visit is the examination, and treatment begins at the second once you have heard the findings and agreed the plan.
If you have a question that is not covered here, call the clinic. A short phone conversation before you book is often the easiest way to settle any doubts.
Book a New Patient Consultation
Two visits: a thorough examination, then your findings and a plan before any treatment begins. Evening appointments on Tuesdays and Thursdays, free parking outside.