What to expect for your first appointment

• In Depth Holistic History 

Why do we take an in depth holistic history?

For you to share:

1. Information about your symptoms, pain, or discomfort.

2. Your goals in seeking care.

3. Any concerns you may have about your health and well being.

To determine if:

1. The body is in a restricted/sympathetic state.

2. If yes, then to what degree of sympathetic state.

To know:

1. What has kept the body system in a reactive state.

2. How long has the body had to compensate in this state.

3. How much change readiness the body is receptive to.

To provide:

1. Information for your prognosis and expected response to care.

2. Direction on which examination procedures prior to treatment are necessary.

3. Insight as to what is important in terms of activities for your quality of life and taking initial measurements for those. 

• Examination 

Why do we do an examination?

1. Gather information.

2. Give you understanding of what is going on in your body and why symptoms are presenting.

3. Rule in/rule out differential diagnoses.

What does it entail?

1. Postural Assessment.

2. Active Range of Motion Assessment for spine and extremities.

3. Resting heart rate.

4. Peripheral vision.

5. Deep tendon reflexes.

6. Structural and muscular palpation.

7. Manual muscle testing.

8. Orthopedic tests.

9. Possible increased orthopedic, neurological, or visceral examinations.

• Report of Findings

Explanation of examination findings are shared. Philosophy of healing of OM3 BODY, LLC (treating the cause, not the symptoms), chiropractic, and how treatment with Dr. Maria Mae De Franco works. 

• Treatment

What is the importance of Holistic Chiropractic treatment?

1. First and foremost Dr. Maria listens to your body and works with it in order to not push any change or outcome.  Addressing your body from a receptive state (as opposed to a forceful state) allows your body to enhance its own healing mechanisms.

2. Your body will not respond efficiently to lifestyle changes, supplements, exercise, or injury recovery if it is in a reactive state of the nervous system.  With chiropractic treatment we shift the body from a reactive state to a receptive state.  

3. Increases parasympathetic tone in the body.

4. Activates the body’s self healing mechanisms.

5. Increases the body’s capacity for self healing.

6. Helps empty the cup of stress that is being held by the body.

7. Decreases pain, discomfort, and tension.

8. Improves posture and body mechanics.

9. Prevents injury and dis-ease.

10. Increases immune system response.

11. Increases circulation and oxygenation.

12. Allows for a greater quality of life.

13. Increases cerebro-spinal fluid flow.

14. Facilitates a better understanding of self and therefore increased level of compassion for self and for others.

15. May facilitate a deeper sense of inner peace.

• Post-treatment self care

1. Gentle walking to help body continue to unwind and expand into new neuro- pathways.

2. Hot bath with epsom salt.

3. Drinking filtered water (possibly with a dash of sea salt or lemon juice).

4. Journaling, free flow writing, sketching, working with crayons, or painting.

5. Singing or humming.

6. Time outdoors with Nature.

7. Meditation or inward quiet time

• Possible post-treatment experiences

1. Habitation of the body in an increased relaxed state.

2. Mild soreness or muscle tiredness sensation (usually only lasts less than 24 hours).

3. New thoughts, ideation, self-expression coming through in day to day life.

4. Increased range of motion, decreased pain, increased flexibility.

5. Change in gait and posture.

6. Release of feelings in the form of weeping, crying, laughing, chuckling, or _____________.

7. Increased oxygenation levels due to efficient abdominal breathing.

8. Increased energy or alternatively temporary tiredness (usually not lasting more than 1-2 days).

9. Change in appetite, change in bowel movements.

10. Increase in dreams, improved sleep.