What to Expect at Your First Chiropractic Visit

Your first visit is mostly an examination

Expect a history and a physical exam before anything else happens. We ask what hurts, when it started, what makes it worse, what you have already tried, and what your day looks like, because a job that keeps you at a desk for nine hours produces a different problem from one that has you lifting. Then we test range of motion, check the joints segment by segment, and look at how you move.

Will I be adjusted on the first visit

Often yes, once the exam is done and there is nothing that rules it out. Sometimes no. If the findings suggest a disc problem, a possible fracture, an inflammatory condition or anything that needs imaging first, we hold off and get the imaging. Being adjusted on day one is not the goal. Being adjusted safely is.

What to wear

Comfortable clothes you can move in. Athletic wear, joggers or anything with give at the hips and shoulders works well. Avoid stiff jeans, belts with heavy buckles and restrictive skirts, since they get in the way of both the exam and the adjustment. Leave large necklaces and earrings at home if you are being treated for neck pain.

How long it takes

Set aside more time than you would for a follow-up. The first appointment includes paperwork, the history, the exam and an explanation of the findings. Follow-up visits are considerably shorter.

What happens after the exam

We tell you what we found and what we think is causing it, in plain language, and then give you a plan. That plan includes roughly how many visits we expect it to take and what should change along the way. If your condition needs something we do not provide, we refer you out rather than starting care that will not help.

Bring these with you

Bring your photo ID and insurance card. If you were in a car accident, bring the claim number, the adjuster contact and any police report you have, because we bill auto liability and third-party claims and it saves a phone call later. If you have had recent X-rays or an MRI of the area, bring the report or the disc.

Will I be sore afterwards

Some people are, particularly after a first adjustment or after a long-standing problem. It usually feels like the ache after a workout and settles within a day or two. Tell us if it does not, because that changes what we do next.

How many visits will it take

It depends on what is wrong and how long it has been wrong. A recent strain in an otherwise healthy back often settles in a handful of visits. A disc problem, a long-standing postural pattern or an injury from a collision takes longer, and typically involves a heavier schedule at the start that tapers as things improve. We give you an estimate after the exam rather than a number over the phone, because a number over the phone would be a guess.

Does an adjustment hurt

Usually not. Most patients describe pressure and then relief, often with an audible release from the joint, which is gas moving in the joint fluid rather than anything breaking. If an area is badly inflamed we work around it and come back to it. Tell us during the visit if something is painful, because there is nearly always another technique for the same joint.

Bringing a child or coming while pregnant

A first visit for a child follows the same shape but the exam is gentler and the treatment is very different. Pediatric and prenatal care uses light sustained contact rather than a manual thrust. Parents are in the room throughout. If you are pregnant, tell us how far along you are when you book, since it changes how we position you on the table.

Do I need a referral

No. You can contact the clinic directly. We will coordinate with your other providers when that makes sense for your care.

Call 918-615-3433 to book a first appointment at our Tulsa clinic.

The information on this site is general and is not medical advice. It does not replace a consultation with a licensed provider. Individual results vary.

Your First Visit