When you call Maine CHI to schedule your first chiropractic adjustment you will be asked a series of questions by our amazing staff. This includes name, birthday, address and phone number, the basics.
Upon arrival for your initial visit, you will be asked to fill out a series of forms. The forms can be found on our website, and you are encouraged to fill these out before you arrive. If you do not have access to a computer, we ask that you arrive 15-20 minutes early so you have time to complete the forms prior to your visit. The doctor works very hard to stay on schedule, if the first 30 minutes of your allotted time is used filling out paperwork, you may not get adjusted that day. It is the law that a chiropractor needs to do an exam before the adjustment is performed. Dr. Walker will review the forms and go over them with you.
Your whole history is important. I know people do not like the paperwork or the questions, but the more information you can give the better I can help you. I need to know what is bothering you? what makes it better or worse? What does it feel like? Does it stay in one area or does it start in one area and move? The dreaded number scale, what is it now from 0-10, and where is it when you are at your worse? And last but not least when do you have this 100% of the time? Does it come and go with activity? Is it worse in the morning and then go away? The more information I have the more I am able to help.
After the verbal history is complete, we move on to the physical part of the exam. I measure your range of motion to have a baseline to compare future visits to. Then I perform muscle tests, orthopedic tests and nerve tests to help aid me in medical decision making.
After all of this I will then let you know what I feel is going on with you. People always want to know if it is bone, muscle, or disk related.
If there are no contra indications to adjusting and you do not require any further testing, you will receive your first adjustment that day.
If you have further questions, I encourage you to make a list and we can cover them at our next visit, or you can call the office any time (207) 250-0255.
–Dr. Abby