What to expect when you visit a chiropractor or osteopath


Chiropractors and osteopaths are specialists in assessing, diagnosing and treating all types of musculoskeletal conditions (problems with the joints, ligaments, tendons and nerves of the body) from backneckshoulder & arm pain to hip knee painosteoarthritis and pain associated with pregnancy & childcare.

You do not need a GP referral to visit – simply BOOK ONLINE or call us on 0117 9723518 to make an appointment.

To find out more about what to expect when you visit a chiropractor or osteopath at our friendly South Bristol clinic, please see below. 

Initial consultation and treatment appointment for new patients

On your first visit to the clinic you will be booked in for an initial consultation and treatment appointment. This will last 45 minutes to an hour and includes an initial assessment, diagnosis of your condition and your first treatment session as outlined below:

Initial consultation
During the initial consultation part of your first appointment, you will be given the opportunity to explain your symptoms and how they are affecting you. Your practitioner will discuss these with you in detail and investigate the cause with neurological and orthopaedic tests.  Xrays and MRI scans may be ordered if needed.

You will then be given a diagnosis, which will be carefully explained to you and your treatment options will be discussed.  A suggested management plan will be drawn up tailored to your comfort and needs, and mindful of any concerns you may have.

Initial treatment
The initial focus of chiropractic or osteopathic treatment is pain relief, after which the emphasis will be on restoring normal function and alignment to your body by correcting the underlying problem. Our safe and gentle treatment techniques range from classic mobilisations and manipulations of stiff joints, muscles and tendons, to stretching and rehab exercises, cranial therapy and acupuncture for tension and pain. All treatment programmes are highly personalised and tailored to individual needs and we are always happy to discuss any concerns you may have in advance. Following treatment, you will be given advice and rehabilitation to help prevent the problem reoccurring.

Please ensure you fill out the online Patient Registration Form – a link to which will be included in your appointment confirmation email – prior to your initial consultation and treatment appointment.
 

Follow up treatments

Follow up treatment last 20 to 25 minutes and you will be advised in your first appointment at the clinic as to how many appointments your practitioner thinks you will need to see improvement. During treatment appointments, your chiropractor or osteopath will continue to re-assess and treat the complaint until it is fully resolved. Once resolved, where appropriate, we would then recommend patients continue to see us at regular intervals for maintenance treatments to help keep their bodies functioning at their best. However, this is always at the patient’s discretion.

What to wear

The best clothing to wear for an initial consultation is something that allows free movement and stretching, so loose clothing or tracksuit bottoms / leggings and a sports top are ideal. You may be asked to remove some outer layers of clothing if they are likely to hinder our assessment of your movement or posture, so please wear appropriate underwear. However, please note gowns are available should you need one. All assessments and subsequent treatments are carried out in a private treatment room, and confidentiality and discretion will be observed at all times.

Want to know more?

We hope that this gives you a good idea of what to expect when you visit a chiropractor or osteopath at the Bristol Back Pain Clinic. If you do have any other questions, you may find our FAQs page useful, as it features answers to some of the most common questions we’re asked about treatment at the clinic such as what’s the difference between a chiropractor and an osteopath?. Alternatively, please just give us a call on 0117 9723518 and we’d be happy to answer any additional questions you may have.


Registered with most major health insurance companies