What to Expect at Your First Chiropractic Visit

If you’ve never been to a chiropractor before, it’s normal to have questions. What will they do? Will it hurt? Do I need to bring anything? We get it. Walking into a new healthcare setting can feel a bit uncertain, so here’s a clear rundown of what your first visit to Basham Chiropractic actually looks like.

Before you arrive

There’s nothing special you need to do to prepare. Wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move freely. If you have any recent imaging (X-rays, MRI scans) or reports from your GP or specialist, bring those along. They can be helpful, but they’re not essential.

If you have private health insurance that covers chiropractic, bring your card and you can claim on the spot.

The paperwork

When you arrive, we’ll ask you to fill out a new patient information form. This covers your basic details and some questions about your general health. It only takes a few minutes, and it gives your chiropractor a head start before they sit down with you.

Your assessment

This is the most important part of your first visit, and it’s where we spend the most time.

Your chiropractor will start by talking through your history. That means the issue that brought you in, but also your past medical history, your work, your activity levels, and anything else that might be relevant. We ask a lot of questions because the more we understand about you, the better we can help.

From there, we move into a hands-on assessment. This typically includes orthopaedic testing (specific movements and tests to identify what structures are involved), neurological testing (checking your reflexes, sensation, and nerve function), strength testing, and a postural assessment.

We’re looking at the whole picture. Your pain might be in your lower back, but the reason it’s there could involve your hips, your pelvis, or the way you move. A thorough assessment helps us work that out.

If we need more information, we may refer you for imaging or suggest a consultation with your GP. We’ll always explain why and what we’re looking for.

Your diagnosis and treatment plan

Once the assessment is complete, your chiropractor will explain what they’ve found in plain language. No jargon, no confusing terminology. We’ll tell you what’s going on, why it’s happening, and what we recommend to address it.

We’ll work with you to put together a management plan. This will vary depending on your specific condition, your goals, and your preferences. Some people want to get out of pain as quickly as possible. Others want to understand the bigger picture and work on long-term prevention. We’re happy to work with either approach.

Treatment

In most cases, we’ll start treatment on your first visit (after the assessment). What that looks like depends on your condition, but it may include spinal or joint manipulation and mobilisation, soft tissue therapy, dry needling, taping, or a combination.

We’ll explain what we’re going to do before we do it, and we’ll check in with you throughout. If you have any questions or concerns at any point, just ask.

Self-management and exercises

An important part of your visit is the take-home component. We’ll give you practical strategies you can use between appointments. This might include specific exercises to do at home, advice on activities to encourage or avoid, ergonomic adjustments for your desk or workstation, or training modifications if you’re active.

We want you to feel like you understand your body and have the tools to help yourself. The work you do between visits is often just as important as what happens in the clinic.

How long does the first visit take?

Allow around 40 minutes for your initial consultation. Follow-up appointments are either 20 or 40 minutes depending on your preferences, the number of areas being treated, and your goals.

Ready to book?

If you’ve been putting off seeing a chiropractor because you weren’t sure what to expect, hopefully this clears things up. We keep things relaxed, we explain everything as we go, and we’re here to help.

Book your first appointment online or give us a call on (02) 4422 1421.