You’ve been thinking about it for weeks. You wake up stiff, your neck feels tight by the end of the day, and when you park you turn your head carefully. You’d like to book your first chiropractic visit, but you’re not quite sure what to expect: will they ask lots of questions? Will there be a “crack”? How much does it cost? Here we walk you through it all, step by step and with no small print.
The essentials in 30 seconds
- Your first chiropractic visit starts with a conversation about your daily life, your habits and what you’d like to get back to doing.
- Next we do a full assessment of your mobility, strength, balance and posture, with digital posture analysis, and, if everything fits, a first session with gentle, precise adjustments.
- At Ôlin the first visit costs €80 and comes with no commitment. At a second appointment we calmly explain your plan.
- To prepare, all you need is comfortable clothes, any medical reports you have and a clear idea of what you want to achieve.
What happens at your first chiropractic visit?
There are three parts to your first chiropractic visit: a conversation to get to know you, a full assessment and a first chiropractic session. There’s no rush and no fixed script. The aim is to understand how your body works today and what you’d like to get back to in your daily life, with no surprises.
Many people arrive with a movie-style idea: walk in, lie down, a crack and off you go. The reality is a lot calmer. Before we lay a hand on you, we want to know who you are.
- 01ConversationYour daily life, your habits and what you want to get back to
- 02Full assessmentMobility, strength, balance and posture, with digital posture analysis
- 03First sessionPrecise adjustments, always explained and only with your agreement
- 04Second appointmentWe calmly explain your plan and you decide
1. A conversation about your life, not just your back
We ask about your work, how many hours you spend sitting, how you sleep, whether you do sport, whether you carry children or grandchildren around. And what you’ve stopped doing: perhaps you no longer enjoy padel as much, or you think twice before carrying the shopping.
Above all, we ask what you notice: a neck that goes stiff, a tired back at the end of the day, shoulders that never quite let go, the weariness of a body that doesn’t move like it used to. Tell us everything, even if you think it’s unrelated.
If you have recent medical reports or test results, this is the moment to show them. They help us get to know you better and tell us whether the sensible thing is to speak to your doctor first.
2. A full assessment, much more than posture
We look at how your spine and each joint move: how you bend, how you turn your trunk and neck, how you squat. And we do simple tests of strength, balance and posture, with a digital posture analysis. It’s a relaxed assessment, standing up and on the couch.
The aim is to understand how your body moves today and whether chiropractic is right for you. If we see anything that needs your doctor’s opinion, we’ll tell you clearly.
We explain what we see as we go, in plain language. It’s your body and you have the right to understand it.
3. A first chiropractic session
If the assessment allows, we do a first session. We make gentle, precise adjustments in the areas where we notice less movement, always explaining beforehand what we’re going to do. If there’s anything you’d rather not do or feel unsure about, we adapt. Nothing happens without your agreement.
What does an adjustment feel like? Does it have to crack?
During a chiropractic adjustment you feel a brief, controlled pressure, sometimes with a small popping sound. That sound is gas being released inside the joint, just like when you crack your knuckles. It isn’t the goal of the session, and it doesn’t mean something has “gone back into place”. Some adjustments make no sound at all.
What people often do mention is a feeling of ease, of a body that feels “looser” afterwards. Others feel a little tired, as they might after a stretching class. Every body is different, which is why we’d rather not promise you anything specific.
If you’re curious about that famous sound, we explain it in more detail in what the chiropractic “crack” is and whether it has to happen.
The crack isn’t the goal. The goal is for you to move freely again in your daily life.
How much does a chiropractor cost in Barcelona?
At Ôlin, your first chiropractic visit costs €80, both at our Barcelona centre (Eixample) and in Malgrat de Mar. It’s a fixed price that includes:
- The initial conversation: your daily life, your habits and what you want to get back to.
- The full assessment: mobility, strength, balance and posture.
- A first chiropractic session, always explained and only with your agreement.
Afterwards we look at everything carefully and, at a second appointment, explain your personalised plan: how many sessions we suggest, how often and how much they cost. You know everything before you decide, and there’s no commitment.
Why does the first visit cost more than the following ones?
Because it’s the visit where we spend the most time listening to you and assessing you: it’s the foundation for everything that follows.
Any questions about prices before you come? Message us on WhatsApp or give us a call: we’ll answer with no obligation.
How to prepare for your first chiropractic visit
To prepare, you only need three things: comfortable clothes you can move in, any recent medical reports or test results you have, and a clear idea of what you’d like to get back to doing. There’s no need to fast or exercise beforehand. Arrive a few minutes early so you can fill in your details calmly.
What to wear
- Comfortable trousers, such as tracksuit bottoms or leggings, that let you bend down and lift your legs.
- A T-shirt that isn’t too baggy, so we can see clearly how your spine moves.
- Avoid thick belts, tight skirts or very stiff jeans.
What to bring and what to think about beforehand
- Recent medical reports or imaging results, if you have them.
- A list of any medication you take.
- Two or three specific situations in which your body feels stuck: getting out of bed, parking, at the end of the working day, after padel.
- Your real goal: playing on the floor with your grandchildren, running again, getting through a day at the computer without your shoulders ending up round your ears.
A little “movement diary” the week before
For a few days, notice how you move with these three gentle exercises. If any of them feels unpleasant, don’t push it: make a note and tell us.
1. The parking turn
Sitting on a chair with your back supported, slowly turn your head to the right as if looking over your shoulder. Come back to the centre and repeat to the left. Notice whether one side turns less or feels tighter.
Dose: 5 slow turns each side · once a day for 3–5 days
2. The hip hinge
Standing, with your knees slightly bent, push your hips back and tip your trunk forward with a long back, as if closing a door with your bottom. Come up slowly. Notice whether you feel stiff or find the movement hard to get.
Dose: 6 slow repetitions · once a day for 3–5 days
3. Shoulder breathing
Sitting or standing, breathe in through your nose as you lift your shoulders towards your ears. As you breathe out, let them drop without effort. Notice whether they’re hard to let go of, or whether they creep up by themselves during the day.
Dose: 5 slow breaths · twice a day
What happens after the first visit?
After your first chiropractic visit we take time to review everything. At a second appointment we explain what we’ve observed, which goals seem realistic to us and which personalised plan we suggest. You decide whether you want to continue. No pressure and no commitment.
As well as the sessions, we give you simple tips for your daily life: how to build in breaks if you work sitting down, which movements to include in the morning, or how to position yourself when you sleep. What you do between sessions matters as much as what we do at the centre.
It’s not just our idea. The World Health Organization recommends limiting sedentary time and replacing it with physical activity of any intensity, even light, as well as strengthening the major muscle groups on two or more days a week. It estimates that 31% of adults worldwide don’t reach the recommended levels of physical activity.
If you spend many hours in front of a screen, Spain’s National Institute for Safety and Health at Work (INSST) points out that short, frequent breaks work better than long, infrequent ones, and that they should let you change position and take a few steps.
How to tell if a chiropractor is trustworthy
A trustworthy chiropractor tells you about their training, listens before doing anything, explains clearly what each visit includes and what it costs, doesn’t promise results and encourages you to speak to your doctor when needed. And they shouldn’t pressure you into deciding anything on the first day.
In Spain, chiropractic is not a regulated health profession, so it’s worth looking at training. At Ôlin, our chiropractors have five years of full-time university training on programmes accredited by the European Council on Chiropractic Education (ECCE), the European body that accredits first-degree chiropractic education.
If you’re weighing up different options, it may help to read how chiropractic, physiotherapy and osteopathy differ. And if you’d like to get to know our Eixample centre, here’s everything about Ôlin, chiropractor in Barcelona. We’re also in Malgrat de Mar, in the heart of the Maresme.
Important: this article offers general information about wellbeing and healthy habits. Chiropractic at Ôlin is wellness-focused and does not replace medical care. If you notice any symptom that worries you, please see your doctor.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a referral from my doctor to see a chiropractor?
No. You can book your first visit directly. That said, if you have recent reports or test results, bring them along: they help us get to know you better. And if during our conversation we feel the sensible thing is for your doctor to see you first, we’ll tell you clearly.
Does the Spanish public health system cover chiropractic?
No. Chiropractic is not part of public healthcare in Spain. Some private insurance policies include chiropractic and others don’t, so it’s best to check your policy terms or ask your insurer.
Can I see a chiropractor if I’m over 65?
Yes. Many of the people we support are between 40 and 70 or older. The initial assessment is there precisely to adapt each adjustment to your age, your history and how your body moves today. With age, adjustments tend to be even gentler.
Can I bring someone with me to the first visit?
Of course. You can come with your partner, a son or daughter or a friend. Many people find it reassuring, especially if it’s their first time seeing a chiropractor. We’ll just ask you to let us know whether you’d like them to be present during the assessment.
Is it normal to feel tired after the first session?
Some people do: their body feels as it would after a stretching class. Others feel lighter. Drink some water, go for a short walk and avoid intense training that day. If you notice anything that concerns you, give us a call and we’ll talk it through.
Want to know how your body moves today?
First visit €80: conversation, full assessment and a first chiropractic session. No commitment, in Barcelona (Eixample) and Malgrat de Mar.
Sources
- World Health Organization — Physical activity, fact sheet (2024)
- PAHO/WHO — New recommendations on physical activity and sedentary behaviour (2020)
- World Health Organization — WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour: at a glance (2020)
- National Institute for Safety and Health at Work (INSST) — Frequently asked technical questions on computer work
- European Council on Chiropractic Education (ECCE) — About us