How To Select The Best Chiropractor
Chiropractic is a profession with a wide
variety of practice philosophies and techniques, which makes it a challenge to
select a chiropractor who is most compatible for an individual. Because the
chiropractic treatment includes hands-on procedures, consideration must be
given for both the preference of treatment style as well as the rapport with
the chiropractor
Collecting Recommendations
One place to start is to ask a primary care
physician, physical therapist, or spine specialist for recommendations of
chiropractors who they view as competent and trustworthy. One way to phrase
this question is: “If someone in your family needed a chiropractor, who
would you recommend?” However, many medical professionals lack regular interaction
with chiropractors and therefore may not be able to provide a recommendation.
Interviewing a Chiropractor
Before starting treatment, it is usually
best to conduct a telephone interview or request an in-office consultation to
learn more about the chiropractor, the clinic, and techniques used. The
treating chiropractor will typically request a personal consultation to discuss
these details.
Background Research
Patients may want to research if there are
any disciplinary actions against the chiropractor. This information is
available from each state’s chiropractic regulation and licensing board, which
can usually be found on the state’s website.
Selecting any health care professional for
treatment is something that should be done with care. Do not feel compelled to
be treated by the first chiropractor interviewed. Many people interview several
chiropractors before selecting one they feel is well suited to treat their
condition.
How To Choose The Right Chiropractor
It is estimated that Doctors of
Chiropractic treat over 27 million Americans annually, with a chiropractic
adjustment being performed around 1 million times every business day in the US
There are many known benefits of
chiropractic treatment, which has made it such a popular treatment. However,
when choosing the right chiropractor you can be overwhelmed with the options,
and with the average session costing around $65, it’s an expensive decision to
make
What factors should I consider when
choosing my chiropractor?
A quick online search should tell you a lot
about your chiropractor, their specialities and any research projects or
charities they’re involved with. Finding out about their area of expertise is
important, so you can ensure you’re choosing a chiropractor with a focus or special
interest in your condition.
Take a little time to research the
different techniques that are used during chiropractic care. You can find a
comprehensive list online that covers the vast array of different techniques
used, however the most popular ones used in the treatment of back pain can be
found here.
There are also additional treatments that
Doctors of Chiropractic offer that may be beneficial to you when treating and
managing your pain. Treatments include acupuncture, nutritional counselling, massage
therapy, interferential electrical muscle stimulation, cryotherapy and heat
therapies.
Tips for Choosing a Chiropractor
A Personal Decision
If you prefer a hands-on approach to
healthcare that promotes healing without medications or surgery, chiropractic
care may be the prescription for you. Your chiropractor is your partner in
spine, muscle and joint health. You depend on your chiropractor’s knowledge and
expertise to help you stay healthy or recover from an injury or spine
condition. How do you find the best chiropractor who is right for you? Here are
some important factors to keep in mind.
Get Referrals
Start by asking your primary care doctor
for a referral list of chiropractors. You can also ask family, friends and
other healthcare providers for recommendations. Take the time to research the
chiropractors’ credentials and experience on Healthgrades.com. As you narrow
down your list, call each chiropractor’s office to see if he or she is
accepting new patients. If so, ask for an appointment to meet and interview the
chiropractor.
Research the Chiropractor’s Credentials
Licensure is one of the most important
factors to consider when you are choosing a chiropractor. It tells you that the
chiropractor has the necessary training, skills and experience to provide
chiropractic care. Also confirm that the chiropractor has no history of
malpractice claims or disciplinary actions. You can find the chiropractor’s
medical school, training hospital, certifications, and malpractice and
disciplinary history on Healthgrades.com and state websites.
Consider the Chiropractor’s Experience
Experience matters when you’re facing
musculoskeletal or spine health issues. The more experience a chiropractor has
with a condition or procedure, the better your results are likely to be. Ask
how many patients with your specific condition the chiropractor has treated. If
you need a specific procedure, ask how many of the procedures the chiropractor
has performed and find out about complication rates—complications the chiropractor
has encountered as well as your own risk of complications.
Consider Gender
It’s important to feel comfortable with
your chiropractor’s gender because you will need to openly discuss personal
information. When it comes to chiropractic care, your own gender is also an
important consideration. Chiropractors are becoming more skilled in caring for
women and men differently. Ask the chiropractor about his or her recent
training and experience specifically related to your condition and your gender.
How to choose a chiropractor
Though there are many great resources for
obtaining valuable information to assist you in your search for a chiropractor,
it can be overwhelming, particularly if you are new to chiropractic. To help
guide you in making an educated choice regarding your health care professional,
keep the following five points in mind as you sort through the mass of
information.
Honesty and confidence
The first thing to look for in a
chiropractic doctor is honesty. An honest doctor has both trust and confidence
in each and every one of his patients, and that confidence is a reflection of
his pride in providing proper treatment and getting successful results for the
patient. A good chiropractor will recommend only the best treatment for your quickest
and best results; not-so-good chiropractors will recommend you sign up for a
package of long-term treatment even before seeing how you respond to treatment.
If chiropractic is not the proper treatment for you, a good chiropractor will
have no problem referring you to another health care professional to manage or
co-manage your case.
Techniques
There are a variety of techniques and
methods of treatment in chiropractic, with no two being exactly alike. Each
specific technique can work well with a specific patient, but no single
technique will work perfect and heal everyone. This being said, any
chiropractor that states her particular technique is superior to others or that
absolutely guarantees results should be avoided. Although her techniques may be
effective with certain patients, guaranteeing results is actually against the
Laws of Chiropractic.
Word of mouth
This is always a great place to start.
Positive word of mouth in every profession is a good sign. If you are
considering chiropractic for the first time, or considering choosing a
different chiropractor, listen to others in your community more than the ads in
the phone book, on TV or placed on Facebook. It is easy to look good in a well
thought out advertisement, but the right chiropractor for you may be more
successfully found by listening to others around you that have experienced
chiropractic practice firsthand.
Appropriate examination, diagnosis, and
treatment
This is extremely important. Doctors of
chiropractic have been through extensive training and education to become
health care providers. This training included proper examination, proper
diagnosis and proper treatment protocols. If a doctor lacks in any one of these
three essential areas, he should not be treating you, period! What does this
mean for you? If a chiropractor doesn’t talk to you about your health history
and your current condition, doesn’t give you an initial physical examination
(checking posture, reflexes, etc.), doesn’t give you a diagnosis regarding your
condition, and won’t explain your treatment plan, find another chiropractor.
Helpful Tips for Choosing a Chiropractor
If you are looking for a health care
provider that promotes healing without medications or surgery, Chiropractic
Care may be the right fit for you. In the field of Chiropractic Care, our main
focus in on the cause of your problem
Check Reviews
When deciding which Chiropractic Clinic
will be the right fit for you, it is always important to look up reviews of the
doctor and clinic before making an appointment. Google reviews are a great way
to find out what others are saying about the particular clinic you are looking
for.
Research the Chiropractor’s Credentials
Making sure the Chiropractor you are about
to see has the proper licensure is a very important factor. It will tell you if
the chiropractor has the proper training, experience, and skills to provide
chiropractic care.
Ask About Experience
A Chiropractors experience matters when you
are facing musculoskeletal or spine health issues. The more experience the
chiropractor has with a particular condition or procedure, your results are
likely to be better.
Ask What Techniques are Used
There are multiple techniques that can be
utilized by Chiropractors to ensure optimal recovery.