New Patients
Your First Visit.
No Surprises.
We know the first chiropractic visit can feel uncertain — especially if you've never been before. Here's exactly what happens, what we look at, and what you'll walk away with.
What Happens at Your First Visit
Step by Step
Your first appointment is an evaluation — not a treatment session. We take the time to understand your history, assess your structure comprehensively, and give you clear answers about what we find before recommending any care plan.
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Health History & Intake
We start with a thorough health history — your current complaint, how long it's been present, what makes it better or worse, past injuries and treatments, and relevant health history. This context is essential for interpreting what we find in the structural evaluation.
Arrive 15 minutes early to complete intake paperwork, or ask us to send forms in advance so you can fill them out at home.
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Structural Evaluation
This is the core of your first visit. We conduct a comprehensive Gonstead structural assessment — the most specific and thorough chiropractic analysis available. This includes:
- Postural analysis — identifying visible structural distortion patterns
- Nervoscope instrumentation — measuring heat differential along the spine to identify areas of nerve interference
- Static and motion palpation — manually assessing joint position and movement at each spinal segment
- Orthopedic and neurological testing — evaluating reflexes, range of motion, and structural integrity
- X-ray imaging — when clinically indicated, providing precise visualization of spinal alignment and joint condition
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Findings & Report of Care
After the evaluation, we sit down with you and walk through what we found. We explain exactly what the structural findings mean, why they're relevant to your symptoms or goals, and what correction looks like in practice.
You'll leave with a clear understanding of your structural situation — not vague reassurances. If we can help you, we'll tell you specifically how and what to expect from care. If we can't, or if another provider would serve you better, we'll tell you that too.
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First Adjustment (If Appropriate)
In most cases, the first chiropractic adjustment happens during this same visit — after we've reviewed the evaluation findings with you and discussed the care plan. If X-rays are needed and require additional analysis time, the first adjustment may occur at a second appointment.
Adjustments are specific to the segments identified in the evaluation. Using the Gonstead Method, we make precise, targeted corrections — not generalized spinal manipulation.
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Your Care Plan
We'll recommend a specific care plan based on your evaluation findings — including visit frequency, duration of the initial correction phase, and the role conditioning will play in your program. You'll understand what each phase is trying to accomplish and how we'll know when you've progressed.
We don't give everyone the same plan. Yours will reflect your specific structural situation, your goals, and your life.
Before You Arrive
How to Prepare
- Wear or bring comfortable, loose-fitting clothing — especially for the lower back and hips
- Bring any recent imaging (X-rays, MRI, CT scans) if you have them
- Have a list of current medications and supplements ready
- Be prepared to describe your symptoms specifically: location, onset, aggravating/relieving factors
- Arrive 15 minutes early, or request intake forms in advance
- Plan for approximately 60–90 minutes for your first appointment
Practice Information
Questions
What New Patients Ask
- Do I need a referral to make an appointment?
- No referral is needed. You can contact us directly to schedule your new patient evaluation.
- Does insurance cover chiropractic care?
- Many insurance plans include chiropractic benefits. We recommend calling your insurance provider before your visit to confirm coverage. We can also provide documentation to support out-of-network reimbursement if needed.
- Is chiropractic care safe?
- Gonstead chiropractic care is highly specific and among the safest conservative care approaches for spinal dysfunction. We conduct a thorough evaluation before any adjustment to ensure care is appropriate for your specific situation.
- Will I be adjusted on my first visit?
- In most cases, yes — if X-ray review isn't needed before proceeding. You'll receive the report of findings first so you understand what we found and what we're correcting before the first adjustment.
- I've tried chiropractic before and it didn't work. Why would this be different?
- Most patients who've tried chiropractic without lasting results received generalized adjustments without a full structural evaluation, and without any conditioning component to maintain the correction. Our Gonstead-specific analysis identifies the precise structural problem — and our conditioning program addresses the muscular component that keeps corrections from holding. That combination is what makes the difference for most patients who've been through chiropractic care before without lasting benefit.
- How many visits will I need?
- This depends on the severity and duration of your structural dysfunction. We'll give you a realistic estimate at your evaluation — including the initial correction phase and what a maintenance schedule typically looks like for your situation. We don't give the same plan to everyone.
Ready When You Are
Take Advantage of Our New Patient Special
Your first visit includes a full Gonstead structural evaluation, a detailed report of our findings, and a clear care plan recommendation. Schedule your appointment today — and get the real answers you've been looking for.