First Visit to Your Chiropractor

• One Leg Test - By standing and slowly raising one leg, this could inform us of sciatica which occurs in the lower back. By applying pressure to the raised leg, we can also locate joint imbalance, pain, and inflammation. Known as the ‘Psoas Muscle Test’, it normally highlights issues in the spinal vertebrae.
• Bending Forwards, Backwards, and Sideways - During this simple exercise, we can detect misaligned spinal vertebrae.
• Grip Test - After gripping a rubber ball, we can assess the condition of your nerves as well as the muscles in the forearm.
• Leg Flex and Extension - Known as the ‘Yeoman’s Test’, this one will detect sprains and assess the integrity of all joints in the legs.
• Raised Leg - While lying down, the ‘Thomas Test’ will have you raise one leg before we apply light pressure; this will test the mobility of your hip joint.
• Others - After this, we may then ask you to run through some other simple tests such as sitting with your normal posture, walking in a straight line, and walking in place. These will show us your spine, gait, and pelvis/spine coordinate respectively.

Once these simple exercises have been completed, Dr. Meraz will use his hands to manipulate the back and assess the condition of the spine and various other structures; we can also inform you of any stimuli that have the potential to cause pain. Finally, if necessary, we could then suggest x-rays, CT scans, blood work, MRIs, and other tests.

At the end of the chiropractic appointment, we’ll sit down and discuss what we found and what it means moving forward. If required, there will also be a discussion regarding lifestyle habits such as diet, exercise, and smoking. By optimizing these three, the healing process will speed up and you can reduce the likelihood of injury occurring again in the future!