How to Choose a Chiropractor

Choosing a chiropractor largely comes down to the physician who makes you feel most comfortable throughout the examination and treatment phase. Other physicians should also recommend chiropractors and support the treatment they provide their patients.

In this article, we’re discussing what you should look for when searching for chiropractic treatment. You can use it to guide your search for the correct doctor that fits your needs. There are certain indicators you should look for when trying to avoid a bad chiropractic experience. For example, a red flag for chiropractors is when they continuously take X-rays with little to no re-examination.

Collecting Recommendations

Perhaps the best place to start when considering a chiropractor is to try and ask people who have already been to the chiropractors for their opinion. Primary care physicians or spine specialists will have an informed idea of whether their colleagues have a good reputation or whether patients report bad reviews.

While some medical professionals may not have regular interactions with chiropractors and therefore will not be able to provide a recommendation, they will likely be able to point you to a colleague that does have the necessary experience. You can also ask friends, co-workers, and neighbors for recommendations. While these recommendations can be valuable, you should keep in mind that they will be providing anecdotal evidence and whether a chiropractor fits your needs depends on the person.

Interviewing a Chiropractor

Before beginning your treatment, you should conduct a telephone interview or request an in-office consultation to learn more about the prospective chiropractor. You should also try to uncover details about the clinic, the techniques they use, and the staff. Feeling comfortable with your chiropractor is one of the most important aspects of choosing the chiropractor.

The more comfortable you are with your chiropractor, the easier it will be to tell them how they can better tailor the experience to your preferences. You should ask yourself the following questions to ensure they understand precisely what you want out of your chiropractic experience.

  • Is the chiropractor patient with you about the questions you have?
  • Do they answer your questions completely?
  • Does the chiropractor listen to your complete list of symptoms and treatment concerns?
  • Does the chiropractor have the experience you are looking for in a professional?

Background Research

You might also want to conduct some research into whether there are any disciplinary actions against the chiropractor. You can typically find this information with the state chiropractor  regulation and licensing board on the state’s website. Patients can also check to determine if the chiropractor’s college is accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education.

You should never feel pressured to be treated by a chiropractor. If you feel uneasy about the interview you had with an interviewer, there is nothing wrong with conducting a few more to see if someone else fits your criteria better. Your chiropractor’s role is to recommend the course of care for a patient. As the patient, it is entirely up to you whether you accept the doctor’s recommendation.

Warning Signs About Chiropractors

The following signs might tell you that you should choose a different chiropractor:

  • Performing too many X-Rays.
  • Performing ongoing care without re-examinations.
  • Lack of improvement of symptoms without a reexamination.
  • Pre-sold treatment packages.
  • Pressuring from the chiropractor for you to sign up for preventative care programs.

Your chiropractor should be willing to refer you to another healthcare provider if the proposed treatment isn’t improving your symptoms.

More Tips for Choosing a Chiropractor

  • Check to see if any of the chiropractors are covered by your insurance plan. If you receive a recommendation from someone else and the chiropractor is on your insurance list, this should be one of the first places you look.
  • Quality check for credentials by accessing your state licensing board’s website to confirm qualifications and any disciplinary actions.
  • Check the conditions of where you seek treatment. There are a number of credible websites and library resources that offer information on conditions such as back pain, sciatica, herniated discs, and other conditions.
  • Conduct research on the practice website. Websites can be very informative about the type of experience you can expect before you even have the interview with the chiropractor.

Tips After Your First Visit

  • Does your chiropractor give you the allotted time you paid for your treatment?
  • Is the chiropractor patient with you and prepared for your session?
  • Do you feel comfortable with all of the assessments they perform?
  • Are you improving as a result of the treatment (you might not be able to determine this within the first couple appointments with your doctor)?
  • Is the treatment physically comfortable?

Make Sure the Chiropractic Provides More Treatment Options Besides Adjustments

Chiropractors should have more in their treatment arsenal than chiropractic adjustments. For many conditions, adjustments will help for the short-term but most conditions require a multi-faceted approach to recovery.

Steer Clear of Offices that Push Long-Term Treatment Plans

Chiropractic offices that force patients to sign up for long-term treatment plans are suspicious. You shouldn’t feel locked into a binding contract with a chiropractor. They should base their offerings on whether their treatment plan works, not on a required timeline. While the recommended treatment plan offering is between 4-6 weeks, chiropractor’s offerings will vary. Whatever your condition, you should have the option to continue based on the improvement of your symptoms.

Chiropractors Should Support Doctors

You have to be careful with chiropractors who have an opposition towards other doctors.  Nowadays, more and more chiropractors are accepted by medical doctors and there are less tendencies of the two professions to combat each other instead of working together to try and provide the best service to patients. Because of this, you should avoid chiropractors who talk disparagingly of other doctors.

Make Sure the Chiropractor Understands Your Goals

Above all, you should make sure the chiropractor you choose fits within your goals. A marathon runner wouldn’t enlist the help of a bodybuilding coach to try and shave seconds off their run times. The same applies to chiropractic care. 

Conclusion- Choosing Your Chiropractor

The main lesson of this article is that no one should feel pressured to continue treatment with a chiropractor who forces their patient into treatment or doesn’t listen to their patients’ concerns. To choose the chiropractor that fits your goals best, you should conduct research into their profession and try to uncover what other physicians say about your chiropractor. You can refer to online forums and friends and family as well. Most importantly, you should choose a chiropractor who makes you feel comfortable throughout treatment and who you notice an improvement with.

Categories: Health

Nicolas Desjardins

Hello everyone, I am the main writer for SIND Canada. I've been writing articles for more than 12 years and I like sharing my knowledge. I'm currently writing for many websites and newspapers. I always keep myself very informed to give you the best information. All my years as a computer scientist made me become an incredible researcher. You can contact me on our forum or by email at [email protected].