Your first chiropractic visit takes 30 to 45 minutes. The doctor takes your health history, examines your spine, and orders X-rays if the exam shows a clinical reason for them. Most new patients get an adjustment the same day, and many feel some relief before they leave the office.
If you are nervous about that first visit, you are in good company.
“My first time going to a chiropractor was yesterday. I was very nervous.” - Summer H. (Lansing)
Of the 486 patient reviews published on this site, 25 describe a first visit, and nerves come up in review after review.
Skepticism shows up too.
“I was skeptical about chiropractic care at first, but after many years of lower back pain, I decided to give it a shot.” - Kevin C. (Holt)
That caution is reasonable. You are handing your spine to someone you just met. The answer to both nerves and skepticism is the same: knowing exactly what is coming.
This article walks through a first visit at our offices step by step: what the doctor asks, what the exam involves, what an adjustment feels like, and what happens after. It follows the same flow as our what to expect page, with more detail on the parts patients ask about most.
The Consultation: What the Doctor Asks
Your visit starts with a conversation, not an adjustment table. The doctor takes your health history: where it hurts, when it started, what makes it better or worse, what you have tried already, past injuries and surgeries, and the medications you take, including over-the-counter ones.
Expect questions that reach past the sore spot. The doctors here treat root causes, not only symptoms, so the conversation covers your work setup, sleep, activity level, and daily habits. A desk job, an old sports injury, or a toddler you carry on one hip can each explain why a problem keeps coming back.
Ask questions of your own. Explanation is how this practice works, and the research says it matters: in a randomized study of low back pain care at UCLA, chiropractic patients were more satisfied than medical patients, and much of the difference traced to how clearly the treatment was explained.[1]
The Exam, and Whether You Will Need X-Rays
The physical exam comes next. The doctor checks your posture, watches you move, tests your range of motion, and presses along the spine to find joints that are restricted or tender. Where your history calls for it, orthopedic and neurological tests get added.
X-rays are decided by the exam, not by default. Imaging happens when there is a clinical reason for it, such as exam findings that need a closer look or a history that raises questions. A 2018 review in Chiropractic & Manual Therapies found no evidence that routinely X-raying every new patient improves care or outcomes.[2] When imaging is needed, we take digital X-rays and go over the images with you.
What Does an Adjustment Feel Like?
Here is the play-by-play. You lie on a padded table, fully clothed. The doctor positions you so one specific joint is at tension, then applies a quick, controlled push with the hands. The movement is small, measured in millimeters, and it is over in under a second. You will probably hear a pop.
The pop is not bone. Researchers at the University of Alberta watched joints crack inside an MRI scanner in 2015: the sound comes from a gas bubble forming in the joint fluid as the joint surfaces separate.[3] It is the same physics as cracking your knuckles, and it is painless.
You set the pace.
“Doctor was very vocal and waited for confirmation before every adjustment and made sure I felt comfortable before proceeding.” - Tameka S. (Lansing)
That is the standard at all three offices. The technique changes with the patient too: gentle methods are used for children and pregnant women.
Afterward, many patients feel immediate relief. Some feel mild soreness, similar to a new workout, that typically fades within 24 hours. A randomized trial that tracked side effects after chiropractic care found the same pattern: what patients reported was mostly brief muscle stiffness or a temporary increase in soreness that settled on its own.[4]
What Happens After Your First Adjustment?
Before you leave, the doctor lays out a care plan: what the exam found, how often to come in, what to do at home, and a realistic timeline. Realistic is the key word. Relief is sometimes immediate and often gradual, and a good chiropractor tells you which to expect for your specific problem.
The treatment itself has evidence behind it. A 2017 systematic review in JAMA covering 26 randomized trials found spinal manipulation improves both pain and function in acute low back pain.[5] The American College of Physicians puts nondrug care, spinal manipulation included, ahead of medication as first-line treatment for low back pain.[6]
Because Dr. David Severance and Dr. Moriah Severance are naturopathic doctors as well as chiropractors, the plan usually reaches past the table. An adjustment relieves a restricted joint, but if you sit ten hours a day, the restriction comes back. Expect specific homework: sitting breaks, a change to your desk or pillow, a couple of exercises, sometimes nutrition.
Kevin C., the skeptic quoted at the top of this article, ended his review very differently than he started it. Read more first-visit stories from patients at all three offices and you will see the same arc repeat: nervous in the lobby, surprised on the table, booked for the next visit.
How to Prepare for Your First Visit
Bring four things:
- Photo ID and insurance card
- A list of current medications, prescription and over-the-counter
- Any relevant medical records or imaging results
- Comfortable clothing that allows easy movement
Three questions worth asking while you are there: What did you find on my exam? How many visits should this take? What can I do at home between visits? The doctor will cover all three without being asked, but having them written down helps nervous patients feel in control.
One honest caveat: chiropractic is not the right first stop for everything. See a medical doctor first, or go to the emergency room, if your back pain comes with numbness in the groin, loss of bladder or bowel control, fever, or sudden weakness in a leg. We refer out when an exam or imaging shows something chiropractic cannot help.
When you are ready, call the office nearest you or send a note through our contact form. We often accommodate same-day scheduling, and most insurance plans do not require a referral. If you are in pain today, say so when you call: that is exactly the kind of visit we try to fit in.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a first chiropractic visit take?
Plan on 30 to 45 minutes at any of our three offices. That covers the consultation, the physical exam, and in most cases your first adjustment.
Will I get adjusted on my first visit?
In most cases, yes. If the exam shows a reason to wait, such as a need for X-rays first, the doctor will explain why and what happens next. Nothing happens without your okay.
Does a chiropractic adjustment hurt?
Most patients feel quick pressure, not pain, and many feel relief right away. The popping sound is gas releasing inside the joint, not bone. Some people feel mild soreness afterward that typically fades within 24 hours.
Do I need a referral to see a chiropractor?
Most insurance plans do not require a referral. HMO plans such as Blue Care Network may require one. Call our office and we will check what your specific plan needs.
Can I get a same-day appointment?
Often, yes. Our Lansing, Holt, and Jackson offices all take new patients, and same-day scheduling is frequently available. Call the location nearest you to check availability.
Do you take walk-in appointments?
At this time we do not typically accept walk-in appointments. However, if you call our office, we will do everything we can to accommodate a same-day appointment whenever possible. Scheduling ahead allows us to provide the appropriate amount of time for a thorough evaluation and treatment while minimizing your wait. If you’re experiencing back pain, neck pain, sciatica, or another musculoskeletal injury, we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible so we can help you find the earliest available appointment.
References
- Hertzman-Miller RP, Morgenstern H, Hurwitz EL, et al. Comparing the satisfaction of low back pain patients randomized to receive medical or chiropractic care: results from the UCLA low-back pain study. Am J Public Health. 2002;92(10):1628-1633. PubMed ↩
- Jenkins HJ, Downie AS, Moore CS, French SD. Current evidence for spinal X-ray use in the chiropractic profession: a narrative review. Chiropractic & Manual Therapies. 2018;26:48. PubMed ↩
- Kawchuk GN, Fryer J, Jaremko JL, Zeng H, Rowe L, Thompson R. Real-time visualization of joint cavitation. PLoS One. 2015;10(4):e0119470. PubMed ↩
- Walker BF, Hebert JJ, Stomski NJ, et al. Outcomes of usual chiropractic. The OUCH randomized controlled trial of adverse events. Spine. 2013;38(20):1723-1729. PubMed ↩
- Paige NM, Miake-Lye IM, Booth MS, et al. Association of spinal manipulative therapy with clinical benefit and harm for acute low back pain: systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2017;317(14):1451-1460. PubMed ↩
- Qaseem A, Wilt TJ, McLean RM, Forciea MA. Noninvasive treatments for acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2017;166(7):514-530. PubMed ↩
