Chiropractic Diagnosis and Analysis
Doctors of Chiropractic regularly perform a thorough physical examination to determine a patient’s health status. Should the doctor decide that the patient requires non-chiropractic treatment, the reason(s) for that decision will be discussed with the patient, and a referral to an appropriate practitioner will be made.
The first step in diagnosis is to record a comprehensive case history. Diagnostic and analytical procedures enable the doctor to discover the nature and extent of the patient’s condition. These procedures may include, but are not limited to, any or all of the following: physical, orthopedic, and neurological examinations; palpation (touch); and clinical laboratory tests to confirm or rule out certain conditions. X-rays, MRI’s, CT scans or sonography studies may be ordered if there is an indication. The Doctor of Chiropractic’s examination is unique in that it also involves chiropractic analysis, which includes a functional interpretation of spinal biomechanics, its distortions, and its correction.
Doctors of Chiropractic are trained in differential diagnosis that enables them to consider many different causes for a given set of symptoms. They can then determine whether or not chiropractic care is warranted and, if so, what type of care is the most appropriate for the detected condition.
The purpose of any health care examination is to provide the patient with a professional opinion before beginning care. As a general rule, the Doctor of Chiropractic shares with the patient the results of the information gathered during this initial phase so that together they can discuss and mutually agree upon a treatment plan.
