First Visit
Children and Appointments
Children may not be left unattended in the clinic, as our office staff cannot supervise them under any circumstances. In addition, we request that children do not attend the appointments of their parents or siblings unless it is a planned family session, as this can be distracting to therapy and potentially detrimental to the treatment process. Please be mindful that our heavy hydraulic tables, which move during treatment, pose a risk to little fingers. Your understanding and cooperation are greatly appreciated.
Brief Paperwork
Stephanie helping a patient check-in.
Our office is in the transition of going paperless! This means you can fill out and sign all of our new patient paperwork online from the comfort of your own home. This saves you a bunch of time with “the clipboard” when you come to our office the first time, resulting in better, more thorough information for our staff. Click the link below to start your paperwork.
History and Consultation
Once your paperwork has been completed, you will sit down and have a history and consultation with Dr. Christopher Twiford to discuss your health-related problems and concerns. The doctor will ask you various questions related to the onset, cause, and quality of your symptoms as well as detailed questions about your overall health history.
Physical Examination
Dr. Twiford examines a patient's neck.
Once the doctor has an idea of what to start looking for based on your history and consultation, a series of physical examination tests will be performed. These will most likely include a variety of Chiropractic, orthopedic, and neurological tests, such as measuring ranges of motion, testing the strength and tone of various muscle groups, checking deep tendon reflexes, etc. The combination of the history, consultation, and physical examination help Dr. Twiford arrive at a working diagnosis for your condition.
X-ray and Other Imaging
Reviewing imaging with a patient.
Patients will often ask, “Do I HAVE to have X-rays done to be seen as a patient there?” The short answer is NO. While some clinics have a rule that ALL patients must receive X-rays on their first visit, that’s not how Dr. Twiford does it. After completing your history and physical examination, we will decide together whether additional imaging is necessary. In some cases, X-rays may be essential for safe treatment or to confirm a suspected diagnosis. In other cases, the doctor may feel it is safe to proceed with treatment without needing an X-ray first.
In the cases where imaging is needed, Alaska Chiropractic and Therapy has access to X-ray, MRI, CT scan, ultrasound, and other state-of-the-art imaging, all read by professional radiologists. We usually get the films and radiology reports back on the same day they are performed.
Same Day Treatment
The patient receives their first adjustment.
Once the examination is finished and all relevant studies are completed, patients will generally receive their first treatment during this visit. This may include spinal adjustments, physical therapies, and/or soft tissue therapies.
Home Instructions
Patients will be given instructions on certain activities or procedures to be conducted at home if appropriate. This may include ice or heat application instructions, avoidance of certain activities or positions, as well as home exercises and/or stretches.
Schedule Your Next Appointment
You will be given a convenient appointment time for your follow-up visit. Generally speaking, patients are seen within 1-2 days and are provided with a complete review of findings. Treatment options for your condition will also be discussed during this time.
