New Patients: What to Expect on Your First Visits
Do you only need to download Adult New Patient Forms? Click here.
Thank you for taking the first step in choosing Dr Keith as your chiropractor.
We understand that coming to a new health clinic can be unsettling, especially if you have decided to buck the norm and choose complimentary healthcare. To ease your mind, we have laid out what you can expect on your first visit to Hammond Family Chiropractic.
1. Our Office
When new patients first walk into our office, the first thing they tend to notice is how very UN-clinical it looks. We've opted for a space that is warm and inviting, but still professional. You will be greeted personally by either Polly or Dr Keith, and Trumpet may even lift his head to say howdy. You will need to complete some forms, which you may download from the link (see above). If you will need to complete forms in the office, please arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment time.
2. The Examination
During your exam, you and Dr Keith will talk in detail about the history of your complaint, as well as your overall health history, including accidents, pregnancies, chronic ailments, and so on. Please allocate at least 45 minutes for your visit, so we don't feel rushed to get through this very important exam.
Following your health history, Dr Keith will perform a series of physical tests related to your problem; he will also assess other areas that may be contributing to your complaint. Dr Keith will check your reflexes, range of motion, muscle strength, and even how well your brain is communicating with the rest of your body (this is a common contributor to many health issues). Based on these tests, Dr Keith may determine that x-rays are necessary for proper diagnosis. Feel free to ask questions about Dr Keith's findings and/or any procedures you are not familiar with. Remember, our goal is help you understand your options for better health.
3. Reporting Back to You
Have you ever been to a doctor who provided a treatment or a pill but didn't tell you why or what it was? That is NOT what we do at Hammond Family Chiropractic. We believe that there is no way you can make a good decision without proper information; therefore, before the adjustments begin, we see you for a "Report of Findings" visit. During this visit, Dr Keith explains exactly what he has determined from your exam and x-rays. This is an opportunity for you to voice any concerns, ask questions, discuss possible outcomes with/without care, and learn if chiropractic is the right choice for you. At Hammond Family Chiropractic, we are NOT going to try to hard sell chiropractic care to you because a) we want people to love coming to our office, and b) we treat our patients the way we want to be treated ourselves. Please allow approximately 45 minutes for the Report of Findings visit so you have time to ask as many questions as you want.
4. Being Adjusted
Dr Keith may choose to adjust you on your first visit, or he might need to wait until receiving your x-rays. In either case, we understand that your health is a major priority, and we work hard to commence your care as soon as safely possible.
An adjustment is a quick but gentle pressure on a joint to loosen it. Chiropractors can perform adjustments either with their hands or with a mechanical device called an activator tool. (Chiropractors receive years of training to learn about adjusting bones in the back safely, so this is not something you should try yourself!)
Adjustments can produce a popping sound, similar to that of a cracking knuckle, when pressure in the joint is released. The sound is caused by bubbles of carbon dioxide gas escaping from the fluid surrounding the joints. The sound is harmless and the gas will eventually dissolve back into the fluid.
So what is an adjustment? The chiropractic adjustment involves the utilization of specific, controlled thrusts by hand or instrument (such as an activator tool) that are directed at subluxations. The goal of this corrective pressure is to return joints to their proper position, remove subluxations and restore health to the nervous system.
5. What's Next?
Depending on your condition, Dr Keith may schedule a series of visits for care. For example, he may want to see you three times a week for the first few weeks, then reassess as he sees how your body is responding. No two patients are the same and we do not offer a one-size-fits-all care plan at Hammond Family Chiropractic.
If so many visits seem unusual, consider this: when you see a medical doctor, he or she may prescribe pills to treat your condition. Because you can take the pills yourself, you don't have to go back to the doctor's office. Your chiropractor's care, on the other hand, involves adjustments and tests that must be done in person.