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 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 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 that fits your situation best.
What Is Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractors use hands-on spinal manipulation techniques and other alternative treatments to treat conditions such as 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 either an alternative or supplemental treatment to more invasive treatment methods such as surgery or medication. Oftentimes, injuries result from repetitive stress, such as posture misalignments and strenuous activity. Chiropractic care uses spinal manipulation to maintain proper posture and functions to avoid these injuries.
Additionally, chiropractic care can be used for pain relief in muscles, joints, bones, and connective tissues such as cartilage and ligaments. It can also be used conjunctively with medical treatments.
Is Chiropractic Treatment Effective?
Various studies demonstrate chiropractic care’s efficacy as a therapeutic approach to conditions such as chronic back 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’s office.
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. 94% of participants who visited a chiropractor, however, saw a 30% reduction of back pain after four weeks of treatment.
What Should I Look for In Chiropractors?
1. Check Reviews
When deciding on a chiropractor, the best place to look for their brand reputation is their client reviews. Areas such as Google and Yelp are an easy way to see what other customers with similar issues say about the prospective chiropractor. Before you trust 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. Make sure 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 also an important factor you can’t afford to 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 spinal injury physical rehabilitation. They can also include laser therapy, while others won’t. Additionally, chiropractors such as Governor’s Park Chiropractic are trained in the innovative practices provided by Dr. Ferdowisian. We also use the Gonstead Chiropractic Method and can provide physical rehabilitation.
5. Schedule a Free Consultation
Legitimate chiropractors should offer free consultations before requiring any agreements. The free consultation gives you an opportunity to discuss your symptoms and medical record. This type of dialogue and discovery phase gives the chiropractor insight into how to tailor their approach to your condition.
The free consultation also gives you the ability to ask whatever questions come up throughout your research phase. This dialogue should give you a more first-hand idea of whether your chiropractor is the right fit for you.
6. Fees
The final phase of looking for a chiropractor comes down to fee structures and your budgetary concerns. You don’t necessarily want to wait until the final stage of your search to examine the chiropractor’s fee structures. However, before agreeing to anything you need to make sure it makes financial sense. You should also ensure that your chiropractor is transparent with their services.
How Should I Interview My Chiropractor?
There are a few useful tips to the interviewing process of choosing a chiropractor you should be aware of before making your decision. First, you should call the prospective chiropractor to gauge their customer service capabilities.
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 it varies depending on the individual but there are a few red flags that can emerge when deciding what chiropractor to use.
The following are a few questions you can ask when trying to gauge your rapport with a chiropractor:
- 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 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.
What Should I Expect At 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 have an idea of what to expect for the first visit beforehand to avoid any surprises and to get the most out of the experience.
The first thing your chiropractor does for the first session is to conduct a physical examination. During the physical exam, the chiropractor will assess things such as 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. 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 create and adapt your treatment plan.
Conclusion- How to Choose a Great Chiropractor
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 you with numerous options so you can attack your condition from multiple angles to bring relief.
They make you comfortable with your treatment plan and provide clear communication 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, we believe 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.
