Getting Started with
Advanced Chiropractic Care

Starting Advanced Chiropractic care at San Antonio Family Alternative Medicine is easy, and will be one of the most beneficial things you will ever do for your own health.

We set ourselves apart
We start the new patient process by asking all perspective patients to kindly fill out our patient intake paperwork before their first visit with the doctor.  The packet contains basic personal information, a detailed health history, office policies, consents for exam and treatment, and several questionnaires designed to give us a look into areas such as your Activities of Daily Living (ADL's), and general brain health.  The earlier that you can have this paperwork completed in full, and returned to our office, along with any additional relevant medical records, the more time Dr. Sweeney will have to look over your case; in essence, allowing him an opportunity to get to know you long before you're sitting on the table waiting for something miraculous to happen.

Most often, Dr. Sweeney will accept all new patients; however, every so often, a case presents itself where Dr. Sweeney must refer a perspective patient to another health care professional before treatment can begin. This is done strictly for the benefit of the patient, and is determined on a case-by-case basis.

Your 1st visit
Your first Advanced Chiropractic visit with Dr. Sweeney will take about an hour and a half.  He will begin by talking with you about your specific issues and concerns.  He will then spend some time educating you about your particular situation and how he may be able to help you.

Dr. Sweeney will then give you a general overview of Advanced Chiropractic; he will discuss brain function and its relationship to the rest of the body. He will explain how Advanced Chiropractic adjustments impact the various body systems, and how it relates directly to you.  Dr. Sweeney strives to ensure that each new patient knows the benefits of Advanced Chiropractic care, and what the potential outcome of consistent treatment might be.  Dr. Sweeney will then review basic introductory office procedures and guidelines, and give you an overview of what you can expect to experience as a new patient.

"We want our patients to be informed; this empowers each person with the knowledge to make educated decisions about his or her own health care"
                                                                                         -- Dr. Jay Sweeney

After the initial discussion, Dr. Sweeney will conduct a comprehensive physical assessment.  The physical assessment (exam) is performed in order to generate a base-line "snap-shot" of your physical, neurological, and overall health status on that day; the results will be used down the road to assess your progress.  The exam takes about an hour, and will consist of evaluations of: your vital statistics (vitals), General neurological state, Cranial Nerve function, Eyes, ears, nose, and throat, Muscle strength and motor function, Sensory perception, and Range of Motion.  Other tests may be conducted as well. Please wear loose-fitting comfortable clothes to your first appointment.  "Gowning" is not needed for the physical assessment; however, good movement is.

X-rays and other diagnostic imaging studies are not routinely performed on new patients, as Dr. Sweeney's adjusting style doesn't generally require them.  However, if there are extenuating circumstances, such as a recent motor vehicle accident or neurological findings, and Dr. Sweeney deems it necessary, appropriate studies will be ordered.

Once the basic assessment data is gathered, Dr. Sweeney will review all of the available information, and create a treatment plan tailored specifically for you, designed to achieve maximum benefit in the best time.

Your 2nd Visit
At the beginning of your next visit (plan about an hour), Dr. Sweeney will share his findings with you; he will explain your treatment plan and its benefits to you.  Your plan will include a detailed explanation of your condition, the type(s) of treatment needed to correct it, the expected frequency and duration of the treatment, and the approximate costs.  Please have your calendar ready to schedule your upcoming visits!

You will then receive your first Advanced Chiropractic adjustment; this will take the remainder of the time (generally 30 minutes).  This adjustment is unlike anything you've ever experienced before, and when you're finished, you will know what "good" feels like.

Regular Visits
The average visit can be any combination of adjustments, muscle/soft tissue therapy, electric stimulation, ultrasound, laser therapy, and/or physical activity/rehab.  The approach can follow one of two courses:

1. Whole-body Advanced Chiropractic, in which all major areas of the body are assessed and addressed nose-to-toes.
2. Problem-focused Advanced Chiropractic, in which we focus on a few serious issues of pressing concern.  We may not be able to get to the rest of the body areas but we'll accomplish as much as we can!

Note...In some more complicated cases, extra time outside the scheduled office visit may be needed for additional therapy.  Dr. Sweeney will discuss this with you, and arrangements will be made as necessary.

You may also be given home-care exercises, physical activities, or lifestyle modifications.  Roughly 40% of your success rides on YOU!...Faithfully following through with these will speed your progress, help you feel better (and for longer), and help your adjustments last longer.  Eventually we can space your maintenance visits out further and further.