Your first visit
An hour, in six parts.
Nobody is treated on the first visit until they have been examined and had it explained. Here is what the hour involves, what to bring, what to wear, and what it costs, so there are no surprises.
The six parts of the first visit
01
The form, ten minutes early
A health questionnaire: where it hurts, how it started, what makes it better or worse, your medical history and medication. Bring a list of what you take and any scan reports you have.
02
The history, twenty minutes
The chiropractor listens. How it started, what you have tried, what you want to get back to. The questions about bladder, bowel, weight loss and night pain are the red-flag screen and we ask everyone.
03
The examination, twenty minutes
Posture and movement, then orthopaedic tests of the joints and neurological tests of the nerves: reflexes, strength, sensation. You keep your underwear on and we provide a gown; a chaperone is available.
04
The report of findings
What we found, what we think is causing it, whether chiropractic is the right thing, and a plan: how many visits, how often, what you do at home, and the date we review it. Questions welcome.
05
The first treatment
If it is appropriate and you consent, treatment starts the same day: adjustment or mobilisation, soft tissue work, and two or three exercises shown and written down. Some people are sore for a day after. That is normal.
06
The review at visit four
Pain and movement scores against the first visit. Improving as expected: carry on to the end of the plan. Not improving: change the plan, add imaging, or refer. Nobody is kept on a course that is not working.
Practical
What to bring, what to wear.
Bring
A list of your medication, any scan or X-ray reports, your insurance details if you are claiming, and the shoes you run or walk in if the problem is a leg or foot.
Wear
Anything you can move in. For the examination you keep your underwear on and we provide a gown; shorts and a vest are ideal. A chaperone is available for any part of the visit.
Allow
An hour, and ten minutes before for the form. Follow-ups are twenty to twenty-five minutes. Arrive late and we will still see you, but the examination may be split across two visits.
Pay
£65 for the first visit including the first treatment where appropriate, by card or cash on the day. Insurance patients: see the fees page for how your insurer handles it.
After the first treatment
A bit sore for a day is normal. Anything more, ring us.
Some people feel looser straight away; some are stiff or a little sore the next day, like after a new exercise, and it passes within forty-eight hours. Keep moving gently, do the two or three exercises you were shown, and avoid the one thing we asked you to avoid. If anything is worse than that, or you have new symptoms, ring reception and the chiropractor will call you back the same day.
Book a first visit.
An hour with a chiropractor: history, examination, a plain explanation and a plan with an end. £65, no GP referral needed, most insurers recognised. Online, or ring reception.