You can expect to spend approximately 30 minutes during your first visit in the office. Prior to this visit, we ask that you fill out our “initial visit forms” online with details regarding your health history. This saves valuable time when you have these forms filled out in advance and allows our Newtown Square chiropractic team to be ready for you.
Your visit will go as follows; consultation, examination and x-rays. Gonstead chiropractors will feel for the presence of swelling, tenderness, and any abnormal texture or tightness in the muscles and other tissues of your back (static palpation). We're also feeling for motion in the spine while moving and bending you (motion palpation) to determine how easily/difficult each segment in your spine is moving in different directions. The doctor is also visually looking for subtle changes in your posture or gait that may indicate a problem as well.
We’ll take an x-ray (if appropriate). The X-rays will help the team at Sage Clinic complete a thorough analysis of your spine. This also includes motion study x-rays, which help not only determine the position of the segments but also whether they are working correctly or not.
Aside from pathology, x-rays are used to determine the best way to adjust a segment SPECIFICALLY e.g., which side of the joint to contact and thrust on and which side to stabilize, the best line-of-drive and thrust mechanism to make a specific correction. The goal is to restore FUNCTION, not necessarily straighten misalignments that may be normal for that individual.
Lastly, we will schedule your second visit to discuss our findings regarding your condition and determine a course of care.