So how do you feel?  Anxious, excited or just nervous about what might happen?  

By reading through the information on this site, we hope that some of your questions and worries might reduce, but rest assured that your well-being is our primary concern and that we promise to make your experience as clear and comfortable as possible.

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Step one

Make the call.  Ever been to the doctors with a problem that you have had for ages, only to find that it seems to disappear on the day of your appointment?  This is very common and it is explained by your body's ability to feel better by simply taking that first step and 'doing something about it.'



When you ring to make an appointment, Niki will  answer and might ask you for a few brief details, phone number, date of birth and perhaps a brief idea of your concerns.  If you would like to book your first visit, we will try to fit around your schedule as much as possible, but please be prepared that there is a lot of ground to cover at your initial assessment and so the appointment will take between one and a half and two hours.  It is often useful to book your second visit (also called your 'report of findings') when you first ring up, as it is important for appointments to be spaced appropriately.



If you prefer to speak to a chiropractor before booking, then this is also possible or to book in for a 'Free' chat and spine check to briefly discuss your concerns before committing to treatment.



​Step two

Arrive for your appointment.​  When you arrive, you will be greeted by Chiropractic Assistant, Niki.  It would be most useful if you can turn up 5 or 10 minutes early as you will be asked to fill out a form with few basic details.  Don't worry if you are not sure about some questions, your chiropractor will be able to go through them with you too. 



Step three

Building up the picture.  At your first appointment, your chiropractor will take you through the rest of the record card to note down more details about your condition as well as other aspects of your health and lifestyle.  If you are able to be as honest and clear as you can, then this will help to build up an accurate picture of what is going on and is key to being able to treat appropriately.  If you are on any medication, then bringing a list of this is also useful as well as any record or details of other medical procedures such as x-rays or reports.​



Step four

Your assessment.  Your physical assessment is your chiropractor's opportunity to find out what might be going on with you and to perform some simple tests as well as more specialized neurological and orthopedic testing.  This gives an opportunity to rule out any concerns and to assess how well your concerns might be affecting your health, as well as being able to give some idea of how much better things could be.  Some of these tests might seem a little odd, but if you feel uncomfortable, then please don't feel embarrassed to ask your chiropractor what the tests mean.

 

Although chiropractic treatments at Helston Chiropractic Clinic are carried out fully clothed, it is often neccessary during the assessment to remove some clothing.  Gowns are however always available and you will be offered one of these at this stage as a matter of routine.  Please be sure to wear appropriate underwear although small sports shorts are also acceptable if you prefer.



Step five

Your report of findings. Following your assessment, you will be advised of a possible diagnosis as well as an idea of a treatment plan and what to expect.  Should there be no contraindications (reasons not to treat that need to be ruled out), then you will be given a treatment.  You will now hopefully be on the road to recovery and optimum health.



Step six

Aftercare.  In order to get the best from your chiropractic care, it is vital to understand the importance of aftercare.

Exercises. You might have been given some exercises to do in your time following treatment.  These will not neccessarily 'fix' you, but are important in maintaining the effectiveness of the adjustments and preventing a return of symptoms.  Exercises are not usually as effective as a short term measure.  Familiarise yourself with them well, and perform them as instructed.  You may need to keep these up for a long time!

Drink lots of water.  Following your treatment, your body might have released toxins.  Flush them out.

Make another appointment.  You might feel great, but effective chiropractic care is rarely a one time 'fix'. Further treatments are essential to retrain and maintain your body.

Avoid taking a hot bath on the night following your treatment to encourage the adjustments to hold.  Similarly, try to avoid any intensive physical activity that might put you right back where you were before.



The next day.  Hopefully, you should feel great, but also... Your body might feel like it has been hit by a truck.  The process of health improvement is entirely down to how your body chooses to respond.  If an aching joint has become fibrous and stiff over years of misuse, it is likely that it might feel uncomfortable if some movement has been encouraged.  Chiropractic treatments might feel gentle to receive, but by introducing stimulation to your nervous system, sometimes your body might respond by feeling a little stressed.

Please do not panic, as these reactions are quite normal.  If you are at all worried, please feel free to call us up and discuss your concerns.

But hopefully.. you should feel great!



Step seven

Keep it up.  For lots of people, having chiropractic care offers a welcome reminder of how life was before pain and restrictions, but chiropractic also has far reaching benefits on the central nervous system's role in your good health.  Keeping problems at bay is one reason why some choose chiropractic, but maintaining and improving yours and your family's health is another very good reason that many people choose chiropractic for longer term, well-being care.