In short
X-rays are not part of the New Patient Consultation. The first visit is a detailed examination of how you move and how your nervous system is working, and that is what your findings and care plan are built on. Bring any X-rays or scan reports you already have; if a scan is ever needed we will tell you plainly and point you to your GP.
Many people assume a chiropractor will want an X-ray before doing anything. At Restore & Move, X-rays are not part of the New Patient Consultation. The first visit is a detailed examination of how you move and how your nervous system is working, and that is what the findings and your care plan are built on. This guide explains what is examined, what to bring if you already have imaging, and what happens if a scan is ever needed.
What the first visit examines
During your first visit your chiropractor thoroughly reviews your overall health and spinal condition in relation to your primary complaint, and conducts a series of diagnostic tests. The appointment usually lasts around thirty minutes and includes:
- A review of your health history
- A neurological and orthopaedic examination
- Digital posture analysis
- Gait analysis, which looks at how you walk
- Vitality tests, including heart rate variability
- Balance and weight distribution
- Ribcage expansion
Why so many tests rather than a picture
Because the painful spot is often not the cause. A sore lower back can be compensating for a hip that does not move well; headaches can trace back to the neck and shoulders. The posture scan and the gait analysis show how your body is loading itself, and the vitality tests show how your nervous system is coping. As you continue through your care these tests are repeated to monitor your progress, so improvement is something we can show you.
If you already have X-rays or scans
Bring them, or have them to hand. If you have had scans, X-rays or a recent letter from a consultant or GP about the problem, they are useful context for the examination and for the report of findings at your second visit.
When a scan would be recommended
Part of the examination is deciding whether anything needs a GP, a scan or a different kind of care. If we think imaging is needed, we will tell you plainly and point you in the right direction, usually through your GP. If we think another kind of care would serve you better, we will say so.
Book a New Patient Consultation
Two visits: a thorough examination, then your findings and a plan before any treatment begins. Evening appointments on Mondays and Thursdays, free parking outside.
Related conditions
More guides
- Chiropractor, physio or osteopath: which should you see?
- What to expect at your first chiropractic appointment
- Back pain after football: why it happens and what to do about it
- Is chiropractic treatment painful?
- Is chiropractic care safe?
- What conditions does chiropractic help with?
- How many sessions will I need?
- How much does it cost?
- All guides →