Your First Visit to Murphy Chiropractic: What to Expect Step by Step

If you’ve never seen a chiropractor before, it’s completely normal to have questions — or even a little anxiety. What will they do? Will it hurt? How long will it take? At Murphy Chiropractic in Kenosha, WI, we want you to feel completely informed and comfortable before you walk through our door. Here’s an honest, step-by-step breakdown of exactly what happens at your first appointment with Dr. John Murphy.

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Before You Arrive

When you call or book online, our team will ask you a few basic questions about your symptoms and schedule you for an initial evaluation. First visits typically take 45–60 minutes, so plan accordingly.

You may be asked to complete intake paperwork before you arrive. Having this done in advance helps us make the most of your appointment time. Bring any relevant imaging (X-rays, MRIs) if you have them — though new images can be taken if needed.

What to wear: Comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. You’ll be moving and potentially lying on a treatment table, so avoid tight jeans or restrictive clothing.

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Step 1: Intake and Health History

Your first appointment begins with a conversation, not a treatment. Dr. Murphy or a staff member will review your intake paperwork and ask you detailed questions about:

• Your current symptoms: Where does it hurt? How long has it been going on? What makes it better or worse?
• Your health history: Past injuries, surgeries, illnesses, and medications.
• Your lifestyle: Work, activity level, posture habits, sleep quality.
• Your goals: What do you want to feel like at the end of your care? What activities do you want to return to?

This conversation matters. The more Dr. Murphy understands about you as a whole person — not just a set of symptoms — the more accurately he can identify the root cause of your problem and design the right treatment plan.

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Step 2: Physical Examination

Next, Dr. Murphy will perform a thorough physical and orthopedic examination. This typically includes:

• Postural assessment — Evaluating how you stand, how your spine curves, and whether your pelvis is level.
• Range of motion testing — How far can you move your neck, back, or the affected area? Is movement painful?
• Orthopedic tests — Specific movement and pressure tests that help identify the structures involved (disc, joint, muscle, nerve).
• Neurological assessment — Checking reflexes, sensation, and muscle strength, especially if you have arm or leg pain, numbness, or tingling.
• Spinal palpation — Dr. Murphy will feel along your spine to identify areas of restricted motion, muscle tightness, or tenderness.

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Step 3: Imaging (If Needed)

Based on the examination, Dr. Murphy may recommend X-rays if they haven’t already been taken. X-rays help visualize spinal alignment, disc spacing, and any structural abnormalities that would affect your care plan. If you’ve had recent X-rays or an MRI from another provider, bring those along — we’ll review them together.

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Step 4: Report of Findings

This is one of the most important parts of your first visit. Dr. Murphy will sit down with you and explain exactly what he found — what’s causing your pain, how it got that way, and what needs to happen to fix it.

He’ll outline a recommended care plan, including:

• How often you should come in (at first, typically 2–3 times per week)
• What therapies will be used (adjustments, PROTEC, laser therapy, hydrotherapy)
• A realistic timeline for improvement
• What you can do at home to support your recovery

You’ll never be pressured into a long-term treatment plan. Dr. Murphy believes in transparency — you’ll know exactly what he recommends and why, and the decision is always yours.

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Step 5: Your First Chiropractic Adjustment (If Appropriate)

Many patients receive their first adjustment on the same day as their initial evaluation — though this depends on what the examination reveals. If imaging or further workup is needed first, your first treatment may be scheduled for your next visit.

When Dr. Murphy performs a chiropractic adjustment, he uses his hands (or occasionally a small instrument) to apply a precisely controlled force to specific joints in your spine. The goal is to restore proper motion to joints that have become restricted or misaligned — which reduces nerve irritation, muscle tension, and pain.

Will it hurt? Most patients feel immediate relief or a pleasant release of tension. You may hear a popping or cracking sound — this is completely normal and harmless. It’s simply gas being released from the joint fluid, similar to cracking your knuckles. Some patients experience mild soreness for 24 hours after their first adjustment, similar to how you might feel after a new workout. This is temporary and a normal part of the healing process.

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Step 6: Additional Therapies

Depending on your condition, your first visit may also include:

• Dry Hydrotherapy — A warm water table treatment that relaxes muscles before your adjustment.
• Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) — FDA-cleared light therapy that reduces inflammation and promotes tissue healing.
• PROTEC Floating Manipulative Therapy — Seated spinal decompression for disc and nerve conditions.

Dr. Murphy will explain any additional therapies and why he’s recommending them for your specific situation.

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After Your First Visit

As you leave, our staff will schedule your follow-up appointments according to your care plan. We’ll also give you any home care recommendations — exercises, stretches, ice/heat protocols — to accelerate your progress between visits.

Most patients notice meaningful improvement within the first 2–4 weeks of care. Some conditions — especially long-standing chronic problems — take longer, but Dr. Murphy will keep you updated on your progress and adjust your plan as needed.

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Ready to Book Your First Appointment?

Murphy Chiropractic has been helping Kenosha families get out of pain and back to living fully since 1995. Dr. Murphy sees new patients on a same-week basis — no referral required.

Book your first appointment online →

Murphy Chiropractic, S.C. | 3535 30th Ave, Suite 201, Kenosha, WI 53144 | (262) 697-7463