What Happens During A Chiropractic Consultation?
Long hours of desk work or study, lack of physical activities, or sports of work-related injuries may have you looking for help with lower back pain, neck pain, headaches or concerns about your posture.
While chiropractic is known to be effective for different musculoskeletal conditions such as a lower back pain, neck pain or headache, you may be still unsure whether chiropractic treatment is right for you.
In this post, we will walk through what to expect during your first initial consultation, your report of findings and a standard follow-up consultation at our Concord Clinic.
Path to Becoming a Chiropractor
Before exploring what happens during chiropractic consultation, it helps to understand the education and clinical training chiropractors complete before becoming registered health professionals under Australian Health Professional
In Australia, chiropractic training typically involve 5 years of full time study, including foundational health sciences and supervised clinical experience. Study pathways include:
University programs: Chiropractic qualifications are offered by universities including Macquarie University, Victoria University, CQUniversity and Murdoch University. Course structures and entry requirements vary between institutions.
College programs: The Australian Chiropractic College (ACC) offers a four-year Bachelor of Chiropractic, preceded by a one-year Diploma of Health Science or approved equivalent study.
Chiropractic students undertake extensive study in human anatomy, physiology, orthopaedics, neurology, rehabilitation and radiology. training develops the knowledge and clinical skills needed to assess patients, consider suitable care options and recognise when referral to another health professional is appropriate.
Students also complete supervised clinical placements, gaining hands-on experience in patient assessment, diagnosis and care under the guidance of qualified practitioners and supervisors. Graduates must meet the Chiropractic Board of Australia’s registration requirements before practising as chiropractors.
Continuous Learning and Development
At Back and Beyond Chiropractic, our chiropractors regularly attend seminars, conferences and workshops as part of their continuing professional development (CPD). This ongoing education helps us keep our knowledge informed by current evidence, improve our clinical skills and techniques up to date with most current standard.
One of our chiropractor Scott Lee has regularly attend Gonstead Chiropractic Seminar and has recently completed Gonstead Ambassador training from Gonstead Chiropractic Society Australia. While Scott is motivated chiropractor to provide the best care as possible to all his patients, he's also involved educating chiropractic students at Macquarie University Chiropractic Department, helping chiropractic students to improve their skills and techniques in Gonstead Chiropractic.
Your First Visit
Step 1 : Paperwork
If you are first time visiting our clinic, you will be asked to fill up the new patient intake form and questions includes:
Your Details: Name, Age, Occupation etc.
Your presenting complaint: "What made you to visit us?"
Stage of chronicity: "How long have you had this issue ?"
Onset: "What happened what this issue started?"
Medication & Medical condition
The new patient intake form helps your chiropractor understand your health concerns and medical history. Don’t worry if you’re unsure how to answer any of the questions—your chiropractor will go through them with you during your consultation.
Step2: Discuss your concern
Once you complete your form, your chiropractor will take you into the consulting room, and will discuss about your health concern based on the form you completed.
You will have the opportunity explain your symptoms, when they began, how they affect your daily life and what you hope to achieve from chiropractic care. Your chiropractor will review your health history and ask further questions to help determine which examinations/assessments may be appropriate.
Step 3: Examinations
Your chiropractor will carry out examinations tailored to your symptoms and health history. This helps us better understand your conditions. Your examination may include:
Range of movement: Assessing how comfortably and freely your spine and other joints move.
Orthopaedic tests: Using specific movements and physical tests to assess joints, muscles and other tissues that may be contributing to your symptoms.
Neurological tests: Checking sensation, muscle strength and reflexes, where appropriate, to assess nerve function.
Chiropractic assessment: Assessing the movement and function of your spine, pelvis and other relevant joints.
(Check how our chiropractic Dr. Scott Lee follows a thorough Gonstead assessments )
During initial consultation, your chiropractor will also determine if further investigations such as x-ray or MRI are necessary before your next visit.
Step4: Discuss Your Findings and Next Steps
Following your examination, your chiropractor will explain the initial findings and discuss whether chiropractic care may be appropriate for you. If treatment is suitable at your first visit, your chiropractor will explain the how chiropractic care can be beneficial for your condition.
Your initial consultation typically takes 30-40 minutes, including treatment if appropriate. The focus is to understand your concern, assess your condition and planning the next steps. Where suitable, initial care may also aim to reduce your pain or discomfort.
Second Visit: Report of Findings
Following your first consultation, your chiropractor will carefully review your examination results before your second appointment.
This visit is known as your Report of Findings. It’s an opportunity to understand your results, discuss your condition and make informed decisions about your care. Your chiropractor will explain:
Examination findings: What we found and how these findings relate to your symptoms
Working Diagnosis: The likely cause of your symptoms and any factors that may be contributing
Recommended care plan: Suitable treatment options, whether chiropractic care may help and any exercises, lifestyle changes or referrals that may be appropriate
We encourage you to ask questions throughout the appointment. Whether you need clarification about your results, your diagnosis or the proposed care plan, we want you to feel informed and comfortable with the next steps.
Recovery is different for everyone. The nature and duration of your condition, your overall health, work demands and daily activities, adherence to your care plan can all influence your progress. Your care plan will take these factors into account and focus on goals that are meaningful to you.
By the end of your report of findings, you should have a clearer understanding of:
What may be causing your symptoms
Which factors may be contributing to your condition
How the recommended care may help
What progress may look like and the expected timeframe for reaching your goals
When we’ll review your progress and whether your care plan needs to change
Once we’ve discussed your findings and answered your questions, treatment can proceed with your consent.
Standard Consultation
During each visit, your chiropractor will discuss your progress, including any changes in your symptoms and how you’re managing everyday activities such as sleeping, working and exercising.
Treatment may include hands-on care, such as chiropractic adjustments, alongside rehabilitation exercises, stretches or ergonomic advice to support your recovery.
At key milestones in your care, we’ll ask you to complete a progress questionnaire. This helps us review changes in your symptoms and daily function, assess your progress towards your goals and adjust your care plan where needed.
Standard consultation typically takes 15-20minutes.
Expert Chiropractic Care in Concord
Chiropractic is non-invasive, surgery free hands on treatment. It is effective treatment for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. Chiropractors undertake extensive training to be proficient in assessing, diagnosing and treating different conditions. Not only chiropractic adjustment, our chiropractors at Back and Beyond Chiropractic Concord also provide rehabilitation exercise, ergonomic advices to support and promote long-term solution for your health concern. (Have more questions? Visit our FAQ page to learn more about commonly asked questions)
Are you looking for help with back pain, neck pain, headaches or concerns about your posture? At Back and Beyond Chiropractic, we provide personalised chiropractic care for people of all ages, tailored to individual needs.
Book an appointment today or call us on 0449 858 802 to discuss your concerns and find out whether chiropractic care is right for you. We’re located at 13 Gipps Street, Concord, and open seven days a week for your convenience.
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