Upon entering our office, our receptionist will welcome you as a member of our family. We will request that you complete our patient forms located in the Online Forms link of the New Patient heading. This paperwork provides us with your health history and information on your condition. This also helps us determine if you are to receive Chiropractic care or Massage Therapy treatment.
A thorough examination, initial treatment and home-care recommendations can be expected on your first visit. Additionally, our phases of care will be explained and any questions you may have answered.
* X-rays are not usually necessary to evaluate your condition however, if needed, only specific views will be requested.
Phase I: Pain Relief
Often times the patient’s initial visit to Progressive Spine & Rehab Center is usually seeking relief from pain somewhere within the musculoskeletal system, i.e., neck pain, head ache, low back pain, shoulder pain, etc. After a careful history and examination, a working diagnosis is determined and a plan of case management is made. Especially in this phase, a modality selection is made to provide relief of pain, muscle spasm and/or loss of range of motion. It must be kept in mind that relief care is just that, relief of your symptoms. A very important goal is to detect and correct the causative factor of this pain and/or dysfunction. Depending on the severity of the underlying condition which is causing your pain, it is typical for a patient to need chiropractic care 2-3 times per week for 2-8 weeks with reassessments along the way to monitor your progress.
Phase II: Restoration of Function
As relief is achieved and with the causation of pain and dysfunction understood, the goal of care will change to restoring muscle and joint function by attaining optimal range of motion with in the spine & extremities, as well as functional muscle strength and balance. During this phase of care corrective exercises are the treatment of choice. It is a well accepted and referenced principal in managing musculoskeletal complaints that joint movement patterns that are within normal limits and muscle strength that is appropriate and balanced is a major hurdle for a pain-free musculoskeletal system. It is during this Phase II that the exercises become more functional and specific for work, or sport. Treatments visits range from 1-8 times per month for 2-12 months, depending on your overall health and the severity of your problem
Phase III: Wellness Care
We encourage each and every one of our patients to achieve the highest level of their health potential. We treat each patient as an individual when they reached this phase and provide them with information and opportunity to achieve and maintain that optimal level of health. With the state-of-the-art testing and procedures used in this office we hope to communicate the value of ongoing chiropractic care to maintain an optimal healthy musculoskeletal system. We call this your “minimum effective dose,” and is similar to taking daily medications in that it helps patients avoid further problems in the future.
It is our hope and goal to see patients and family members abandoned the prevailing sickness care model of health [waiting for symptoms and then taking action on them], in favor of the emerging wellness model. Usually, this phase of care only requires a quick visit to the chiropractor every 1-3 months, based on your lifestyle and goals. This is also an opportunity for your chiropractor to review your home exercise/nutrition plan and make any necessary changes.
For more information please contact our office.