Viewing X-rays
Our Exam Room
The most common reason people delay coming to see us isn’t the cost, or the location, or the hours.
It’s not knowing what to expect.
There’s something about walking into a healthcare clinic for the first time — especially for a problem that’s been bothering you for a while — that can feel uncertain. What will they do? How long will it take? Will it hurt? What if the problem is worse than I thought?
These are completely reasonable questions. So here is a complete, honest account of exactly what happens when you walk through our door for the first time.
Before You Arrive
When you call to book your first appointment, you’ll speak with Lesley — our receptionist, and a genuine asset to this clinic. Lesley and her entire family were patients here before she joined our team, so she is not reciting a script. She knows what it’s like to sit in the waiting room for the first time, and she will answer your questions plainly and help you find a time that fits your schedule.
We ask that you arrive a few minutes early for your first visit. There is paperwork to complete — health history, the nature of your concern, anything relevant to how you’ve been feeling. This information helps Dr. Jeff understand your situation before the examination even begins.
We have free on-site parking, so that part at least is simple.
The Consultation — Dr. Jeff Listens First
Once you’re settled, you’ll meet Dr. Jeff. Before anything else happens, he sits down with you and listens.
This is not a formality. Dr. Jeff genuinely wants to understand your situation — not just the location of the pain, but how long it has been going on, what makes it better or worse, what you’ve already tried, and what you are hoping to achieve. He wants to know what your life looks like right now and what you’d like it to look like with this problem resolved.
This conversation shapes everything that follows. It tells Dr. Jeff which examination procedures are relevant and which aren’t, and it ensures that your care plan is built around your actual goals — not a generic protocol.
The Examination — Objective and Thorough
After the consultation, Dr. Jeff will conduct a comprehensive examination. At Active Chiropractic & Wellness Centre this goes beyond what you’ll typically experience at most clinics, because we use diagnostic technology that gives us an objective picture of what’s happening in your nervous system — not just your joints and muscles.
Here is what your examination will typically include:
Posture and weight distribution assessment. How you stand and how your weight is distributed tells us a great deal about the structural patterns that may be contributing to your condition.
Physical range of motion and strength tests. These establish a baseline and help identify which movements are restricted or painful.
Orthopaedic and neurological testing. Specific clinical tests to identify the nature and location of the problem.
Hands-on assessment of the joints and tissues involved. Dr. Jeff will examine the specific area of concern, as well as related structures that may be contributing.
INSiGHT™ Subluxation Station scans. This is the technology that sets our clinic apart. The INSiGHT system measures thermography (heat patterns along the spine, which indicate nerve stress), surface electromyography (muscle tension patterns), and heart rate variability (an indicator of overall nervous system balance). These are computerized, objective measurements — not subjective assessments. They show you, visually, exactly which areas of your nervous system are under stress and how your body is compensating. Most patients find this genuinely fascinating.
The purpose of all of this is not to run you through a procedure. It is to understand your body well enough to make recommendations that will actually help.
Your First Visit Investment
We want care to be accessible, so your complete first visit — consultation, physical and computerized examination, report of findings, and treatment plan options — is $90.
If it is appropriate to begin some initial treatment during the first visit, we will do so. You will leave understanding what we found, what it means, and what your options are.
The Report of Findings — Your Second Visit
On your second appointment, Dr. Jeff will walk you through everything he found and make his recommendations. This is when the plan becomes clear: what the examination revealed, what treatment approaches are most appropriate for your situation, how many visits are likely needed, and what outcomes you can reasonably expect.
We discuss your options honestly. You are always in charge of your care decisions. We will never pressure you into a programme that doesn’t make sense for your life or your goals.
What to Wear
Comfortable, loose clothing is ideal — particularly anything that gives easy access to the area of concern. If your issue involves your lower back, hips, or legs, athletic pants or shorts are helpful. If it’s your neck or shoulders, a loose top. We have a curtained treatment area for your privacy.
How Long Will It Take?
Allow up to an hour for your first visit. Subsequent appointments are considerably shorter — we pride ourselves on respecting your time, and regular visits are designed to be efficient without ever feeling rushed.
A Word About What Happens If We Can’t Help
This matters to us enough to say clearly: if after your examination Dr. Jeff does not believe we can meaningfully help your condition, he will tell you so directly. He will explain why, and if another practitioner or approach is better suited to your case, he will tell you that too.
In 40 years of practice, that honesty has been the foundation of the trust patients place in this clinic. It is not a sales pitch. It is simply how we work.
Ready to Book?
If you’ve been thinking about coming in — for pain you’ve been managing, a condition you’ve been told to live with, or simply because you want to understand what’s actually going on in your body — this is the call to make.
Same-week appointments are often available. Call Lesley at (705) 743-1661, or use the booking form at activechiroptbo.ca. We look forward to meeting you.
Active Chiropractic & Wellness Centre | 401 McDonnel St, Peterborough, ON | Serving Peterborough, Lakefield, Kawartha Lakes, Norwood, and surrounding communities since 1988.