Choosing a chiropractor comes down to a few factors. First and foremost, you should feel like your chiropractor cares about your recovery and doesn’t see your pain as a dollar sign. Next, you should feel comfortable and be able to build a rapport with your chiropractor. Your chiropractor should also be well-versed in your specific condition, and they should be able to provide a tailored approach to your treatment that responds to your treatment needs.
The best chiropractors understand how to implement multiple treatment methods in their approach to recovery to ensure you make a full recovery. Treatments such as acupuncture, massage therapy, and spinal decompression can all contribute to your full recovery. Governor’s Park Chiropractic is a full-service chiropractor clinic that ensures you have access to the most advanced treatments and technology so you can get back to living the comfortable and pain-free life you deserve.
We constructed this guide to choosing a great chiropractor to ensure you feel comfortable throughout the selection process. Using the steps provided in this guide will help you find the chiropractor who best fits your situation.
What Is Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractors use hands-on spinal manipulation techniques and other alternative treatments to treat back pain and align the body’s musculoskeletal structure. Doing so facilitates better healing throughout the body and ensures the nervous system’s proper functioning.
Chiropractic care is also used as an alternative or supplemental treatment to more invasive methods such as surgery or medication. Often, injuries result from repetitive stress, such as posture misalignments and strenuous activity. Chiropractic care uses spinal manipulation to maintain proper posture and function to avoid these injuries.
Additionally, chiropractic care can relieve pain in muscles, joints, bones, and connective tissues such as cartilage and ligaments. It can also be used in conjunction with medical treatments.
Is Chiropractic Treatment Effective?
Various studies demonstrate chiropractic care’s efficacy as a therapeutic approach to chronic pain, persistent headaches, and other ailments. A study published in the Journal of the American Board of Medicine found that replacing a doctor’s office visit for back pain with a visit to the chiropractic office is much more efficient and facilitates better healing.
In another study produced by the Spine Journal, the conductors found that 56% of patients with back pain who visited the doctor experienced a 30% reduction after four weeks. However, 94% of participants who visited a chiropractor saw a 30% reduction in back pain after four weeks of treatment.
What Should I Look for In a Chiropractor?
1. Check Reviews
When deciding on a chiropractor, the best place to look for their brand reputation is their client reviews. Google and Yelp are helpful for seeing what other customers with similar issues are saying about the prospective chiropractor. Before trusting anyone with your spinal care, you want to know they have an established reputation with their clientele.
2. Research the Chiropractor’s Credentials
After researching the chiropractor’s brand reputation, you should check their credentials to ensure they have the correct knowledge and experience to treat your condition. Ensure your chiropractor has the correct licensure and no history of malpractice or disciplinary actions against them. A clean record and a commitment to expanding their knowledge are must-haves when choosing your chiropractor.
3. Inquire About Their Experience
Chiropractors’ credentials — their certifications and education — are critical factors when determining the right chiropractor. However, experience is an important factor you can’t overlook. The more experience they have administering the treatment you require, the more likely it will be that they can create a tailored treatment program for you.
4. Research the Techniques They Use
Chiropractors offer different services and techniques. For example, one chiropractor might offer acupuncture and physical rehabilitation for spinal injuries. Some chiropractors might also offer dry needling as an effective therapeutic technique. Chiropractors at Governor’s Park Chiropractic are trained in the Gonstead Method and other innovative practices provided by Dr. Ferdowisian.
5. Schedule a Free Consultation
Legitimate chiropractors should offer free consultations before requiring any payments or care agreements. The free consultation gives you an opportunity to discuss your symptoms and medical records with a licensed chiropractor. This dialogue and discovery opportunity provides the chiropractor with insight into how to tailor their approach to your condition.
The free consultation also gives you the ability to ask whatever questions come up during your research. Communicating with a chiropractor should give you more of a first-hand idea of whether or not they are the right fit for you.
6. Fees
The final phase of looking for a chiropractor comes down to fee structures and budget concerns. You don’t necessarily want to wait until the final stage of your search to examine the chiropractor’s fee structures. Therefore, you need to make sure it makes financial sense and that your chiropractor is transparent with their services.
How Should I Interview My Chiropractor?
Interviewing your chiropractor can offer a lot of insight when determining if they are a right fit for you. Call prospective chiropractors to gauge their customer service capabilities and assess their responses and offerings.
As with any medical practice, you need to feel comfortable with the chiropractor and their staff before your first session. Feeling “comfortable” is subjective and varies depending on the individual. However, a few red flags can emerge when deciding which chiropractor to use.
A few questions you can ask yourself when trying to gauge your rapport with a chiropractor are:
- Are they friendly and inviting?
- Do you feel comfortable divulging medical information with your prospective chiropractor?
- Do they answer your questions fully?
- Does the chiropractor listen to you?
You should also inquire about what field the prospective chiropractor feels most comfortable in, depending on their experience and education. The field of chiropractic care is broad, and some chiropractors have specialties in other areas, such as orthopedics, sports medicine and rehabilitation, neurology, and nutrition. Chiropractors may also specialize in treating conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, offering non-invasive solutions for pain relief.
What Should I Expect During My First Chiropractic Visit?
After you’ve conducted research for your chiropractor and made your choice, it’s time to schedule your first visit. You should know what to expect before your first appointment to avoid any surprises and get the most out of the experience.
The first thing your chiropractor will do during your first session is to conduct a physical examination. During the physical exam, the chiropractor will assess your range of motion, reflexes, stability, and functionality.
This physical examination pays close attention to your neck and spine — the principal area for chiropractic care. After this examination, they will ask for the specific areas where you experience physical discomfort and pain.
From this assessment, your chiropractor will take an X-ray to further investigate the status of your musculoskeletal system. The X-ray will reveal the extent of your spinal misalignments and any potential damage. The X-rays give your chiropractor a better understanding of whether you can benefit from chiropractic treatment or whether more drastic measures are required.
Your chiropractor will likely be able to adjust your spine and provide immediate treatment. Chiropractic adjustments should take place in a comfortable environment made specifically for chiropractic care.
If you have chronic or severe levels of discomfort, you will likely need ongoing chiropractic care. This type of discomfort may necessitate multiple sessions per week. During these sessions, your chiropractor will consider your overall health, physical condition, and progression to adjust and adapt your treatment plan.
Get The Best Chiropractic Care at Governor’s Park Chiropractic
Choosing your chiropractor shouldn’t stress you out. It should be a relieving process, and you should look forward to the time you spend with them. The best chiropractors use multiple treatment methods to provide numerous options so you can attack your condition from multiple angles to bring relief.
They make you comfortable with your treatment plan and communicate clearly throughout your sessions. This clear communication ensures you reach your treatment goals and are comfortable with the direction of your treatment.
At Governor’s Park Chiropractic, our clients come first. That’s why we offer state-of-the-art treatment methods and equipment that ensure our clients get the best treatment they can find.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and start experiencing symptom relief.
Governor's Park Chiropractic is the Colorado chiropractor team dedicated to helping individuals get out of pain and achieve better health. Offering a range of services and treatment options to meet the specific needs of each patient.