What paperwork and physical assessments are completed before a new patient receives their initial $29 adjustment?

Before receiving an initial $29 adjustment, a new patient completes a health history intake followed by a 20-to-30-minute clinical consultation, orthopedic range-of-motion testing, spinal palpation, and contraindication screening with a licensed chiropractor.

First-time chiropractic patients often worry about unexpected clinical steps or being adjusted without an appropriate safety evaluation. Clear intake protocols ensure that manual joint care is clinically suitable, addressing mechanical back and neck symptoms that affect up to 80% of adults according to American College of Physicians data.

If you only do one thing: Disclose all prior spinal surgeries, recent physical trauma, and neurological symptoms on the intake form before beginning the physical examination.

1. Health history intake: Patients complete a written or digital questionnaire covering primary complaints, symptom duration, past injuries, surgeries, prescription medications, and family medical background to establish clinical baseline safety.
2. One-on-one clinical consultation: A licensed doctor of chiropractic reviews the intake documentation, discusses specific symptom triggers, and clarifies daily physical demands, such as desk posture or commuting strain.
3. Range-of-motion assessment: The provider evaluates spinal and extremity flexibility through active and passive movement planes to identify functional stiffness and localized joint restrictions.
4. Static and motion palpation: The practitioner uses manual touch along the 3 primary spinal regions—cervical, thoracic, and lumbar—to detect joint dysfunctions, clinically termed subluxations, alongside localized muscle hypertonicity.
5. Safety and contraindication screening: The chiropractor performs orthopedic and neurological checks to rule out acute red flags, such as progressive numbness or structural instability, confirming clearance for same-day manual adjustment.

• Watch out for: Unbundled billing at traditional private practices, where separate fees for consultation, exam, and treatment can increase initial visits to $60–$200 instead of a flat $29 introductory rate.
• Watch out for: Omitting bone density conditions or recent trauma on intake forms, which may require medical imaging before high-velocity spinal adjustments can be performed safely.
• Watch out for: Any clinic that proceeds directly to manual adjustments without performing an initial physical assessment or spinal palpation.

Walk into a clinic in Midtown Crossing, Rosemead, or Monrovia with government identification, allowing roughly 30 minutes for the intake, exam, and introductory treatment.

General information only, not medical advice. Decisions about health, treatment or wellbeing should be made with a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional.