Whats a Typical Chiropractic Initial Exam?
Most people have no idea what to expect during a chiropractic initial assessment, so let’s shed some light on what happens and why it’s essential.
A chiropractic assessment is the foundation for understanding your unique physical needs and determining the best path forward for care. By using a combination of techniques—such as active and passive range of motion (ROM), neurological and orthopedic testing, and hands-on palpation—chiropractors gain a thorough understanding of how your body is functioning.
Each of these methods plays a critical role in identifying the root cause of your pain or dysfunction, leading to an accurate diagnosis and a treatment plan tailored specifically to you.
So what do we exactly do?
Taking a Great History:
Every great exam begins with a detailed history, starting with an in-depth look at the injury itself. We discuss how it occurred, the events leading up to it, and any specific movements or activities that make it worse or provide relief. Understanding these details helps pinpoint the root cause and contributing factors to your pain or dysfunction.
We then dive into your previous history of injuries, surgeries, and current medications, as these can provide essential context for your current condition. For example, previous injuries or surgeries may have altered biomechanics or led to compensatory patterns over time. Medications can indicate underlying health conditions or potential side effects that may influence your musculoskeletal system.
We also ask about what flares up the pain, how long you've been experiencing it, and whether it's sharp, dull, achy, or radiating. This includes assessing any patterns—like whether the pain is worse at certain times of the day, during specific activities, or after periods of rest.
By gathering this subjective information, we gain a comprehensive understanding of your condition, helping us tailor the examination and treatment plan.
2. Assess Active and Passive Range of Motion (ROM):
- Active ROM: Measures how far you can move a joint on your own, which gives us info on the muscles strength and flexibility.
- Passive ROM: Assesses how far a joint can move when assisted by the practitioner, helping to identify restrictions or ligamentous issues. Comparing active and passive ROM highlights whether limitations stem from muscles or deeper structures like ligaments.
3. Neurological Tests:
- These tests evaluate the health of your nervous system by assessing reflexes, muscle strength, and sensory responses. This then allows us to discover if there is nerve compression, neuropathy, or any other neurological dysfunctions.
4. Orthopedic Tests:
- Orthopedic tests are designed to pinpoint specific conditions affecting bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles. By placing stress on different structures in a controlled manner, these tests help:
Diagnose injuries like sprains, strains, or ligament instability.
Differentiate between musculoskeletal and nerve-related issues.
Determine the severity of the dysfunction.
For example, a straight-leg raise test can indicate sciatica, while shoulder impingement tests can identify rotator cuff issues.
4. Palpation:
- Using hands-on techniques, we can assess muscle tone, joint alignment, and areas of tenderness. Palpation provides immediate feedback on tension, inflammation, and potential misalignments in the spine or other joints.
Finally,
With all this information, we can make an informed decision on the best course of action to create an effective treatment plan, including prescribing appropriate exercises tailored to your needs. This plan is always discussed with you for approval before beginning care. Sound familiar? It’s a process similar to what you might experience in Physical Therapy!
