What to Expect at Your First Chiropractic Visit in the Wausau, Wisconsin Area
- Derek Lund
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
If you’re considering chiropractic care in the Wausau, Wisconsin area, you might be wondering what happens during your first visit to a chiropractor. At Marks Chiropractic, we’re committed to making your experience comfortable, informative, and tailored to your needs. Whether you’re dealing with back pain, neck stiffness, sciatica, or just want to feel better overall, your first visit is the start of a personalized journey to better health. Here’s a step-by-step guide to what you can expect when you walk through our doors in Marathon.
Step 1: Welcoming You and Completing Intake Paperwork
When you arrive at our office, you’ll be greeted by our friendly team, who are here to make you feel at ease. Your first task will be filling out some intake paperwork—don’t worry, it’s straightforward! These forms help us get to know you better by collecting details about your health history, current symptoms, and any specific concerns, like that nagging lower back pain from shoveling snow or pulling weeds in the garden
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We’ll also ask about your lifestyle—whether you’re an avid hiker on Rib Mountain or spend long hours at a desk. This information gives us a complete picture so we can tailor our approach to you. If you prefer, we can often send forms ahead of time to save you a few minutes at the office.
Step 2: Discussing Your Goals and Cost Options
After the paperwork, you’ll sit down with our doctor for a one-on-one conversation. This is your chance to share why you’re here—maybe it’s chronic headaches, stiffness from gardening or sitting at a desk all day, or wanting to stay active for hikes with your family. We’ll listen carefully to understand your goals, whether that’s pain relief, better mobility, or overall wellness.
We’ll also talk about the best cost options for your care. At Marks Chiropractic, we believe in transparency and affordability. We’ll explain payment options, including whether your insurance covers chiropractic care, and discuss flexible plans that fit your budget. Our goal is to ensure you feel confident about your investment in your health without any surprises.
Step 3: A Thorough Evaluation (No X-Rays Needed in Most Cases)
Next, we’ll perform a comprehensive evaluation to get to the root cause of your concerns. Don’t worry—this process is non-invasive and designed to be comfortable. We’ll assess your posture, range of motion, muscle strength, and perform specific tests to pinpoint areas of tension or stiffness. For example, we might check how your spine moves if you’re feeling stiff after a long day of bouncing across the fields in your tractor.
In most cases, we don’t need X-rays to start treatment. Our hands-on evaluation, combined with your health history, gives us enough information to create an effective plan. If we ever feel imaging is necessary, we’ll explain why and guide you through the process, but for the vast majority of patients, we can get started without it. In some cases such as following trauma, or during an examination red flags are present, imaging will be considered immediately or after a short trial of care.
Step 4: Effective Treatment Tailored to You
Once we’ve completed your evaluation, we’ll move into treatment—almost always on the same visit, so you can start feeling better right away. Our approach is holistic and customized, drawing from a range of techniques to address your needs. Here’s what your first treatment might include:
Chiropractic Adjustments: Gentle, precise adjustments to restore mobility to the joints of your spine and extremities. These can provide immediate relief for issues like back pain or neck stiffness. It is relatively rare for this to be uncomfortable in the office and occasionally can lead to soreness later that day or the following morning.
Therapeutic Exercises: We’ll show you specific stretches or strengthening exercises you can do at home to support your recovery. For instance, if you’re a runner training for the Wausau Marathon, we might focus on hip mobility or ankle dorsiflexion
Class IV Laser Therapy (If Needed): For deeper pain or inflammation, we may use laser therapy to promote healing at the cellular level. It’s painless and may speed up recovery for conditions like disc herniation or tendinitis.
Dry Needling (If Needed): If muscle tightness is a major issue, dry needling can release trigger points, easing discomfort. We’ll only recommend this if it’s a good fit for you.
We’ll explain each step so you know exactly what’s happening and why. Our focus is on what’s most effective for you, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Step 5: A Treatment Plan in Your Best Interest
After your treatment, we’ll sit down to discuss a plan moving forward—one that’s practical and focused on your long-term health. Unlike some outdated approaches, we don’t believe in locking you into endless visits, like three times a week for life. Instead, we design a plan based on your specific condition and goals.
For example, if you came in with acute lower back pain, we might suggest a short series of visits—say, once or twice a week for a few weeks—to address the issue and build resilience. As you improve, we’ll space out appointments, empowering you with exercises and self-care tips to maintain your progress. If you’re here for wellness, we might recommend periodic check-ins to keep you moving well for Wausau’s active lifestyle, from biking along the Riverlife Park trails to playing with your kids at Marathon Park.
We’ll always adjust the plan as you progress, ensuring it stays in your best interest. Our priority is helping you feel great and get back to enjoying life in Wausau, not keeping you tethered to our office.
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Your first chiropractic visit at Marks Chiropractic in Marathon is all about understanding you, easing your concerns, and setting you on a path to better health. We’re here to answer your questions, provide expert care, and make the process as smooth as possible. If you’re in the Wausau area and ready to see how chiropractic can help, give us a call at 715-443-6777. Let’s work together to help you move better, feel better, and live better—right here in the heart of Central Wisconsin.
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