Should I see a chiropractor first after an injury?

After being injured, one of the hardest decisions is determining what the next step should be. It turns out, a chiropractor may be a great first choice!

Chiropractors are excellent at providing an accurate diagnosis based off of a number of tests, many of the same tests they would perform at an urgent care. These test include, but are not limited to;

• Orthopedic exams
• Vital exams 
• Functional screenings
• Range of motion exam
• Neurologic exams
• X-rays
• Full history 
• Motion Palpation

You may be asking yourself, what if I need an X-ray? Chiropractors are trained to perform X-rays, read X-rays and assess when X-rays are medically necessary, Possibly preventing a patient from unnecessary radiation exposure. 

What is it exactly chiropractors work on? 

Chiropractors are neuromusculoskeletal specialists, meaning they are trained to work on neurologic conditions, muscular conditions and skeletal conditions. Therefor, there's a great chance they can be of help themselves to treat the problem. If the problem is out of their scope, they will have the knowledge of the appropriate provider to refer the patient to. Chiropractors have the responsibility to decide when the appropriate time to treat is, as well as where the appropriate referral would be.

Chiropractors see a number of different injuries ranging from the most simple tweak in the back after sleeping wrong, to traumatic myofascial injuries following an auto accidents. With their wide array of injuries they see on a daily basis, chiropractors are a great choice for the first stop following an injury. We at Gallatin Valley Chiropractic will provide an accurate and honest opinion on each injury to ensure each patient gets the appropriate care they need.

It's important to note that if the injury is life threatening, seek emergency medical treatment immediately.

To schedule call us at 406-551-2177 or go online to gallatinvalleychiropractic.com