How To Choose The Right Chiropractor
- 5 Things To Look For In A Good Chiropractor
- 5 Red Flags To Help You Avoid The Wrong Chiropractor
Choosing The Right Chiropractor:
Choosing the right Chiropractor can often be difficult and confusing. Chiropractic Clinics, styles, and techniques can vary. There is no One Size Fits All approach that works for everyone. We are all unique and different and even more, every injury and condition can be different and require a different type of care. It’s often confusing and frustrating for patients to find the right chiropractor. This is especially true of people who are new to getting chiropractic care and aren’t sure what to look for.
As a multi-generation Chiropractor who has been in the industry for more that 20 years (and getting chiropractic care since the day I was born), I am here to offer some insight into what to look for in a quality Chiropractic Clinic and also give you a few red flags that would make me run for the hills!
5 Things To Look For In A Good Chiropractor:
1. A Reputable Clinic with a Long History of Good Care
What to Look For: A clinic with a solid reputation and a history of providing good care.
Explanation: One of the best ways to find a trustworthy Chiropractor is by choosing a clinic that has been around for a long time, and is known for its good care. Ask people you know, like friends and family, if they have had a positive experience there. A clinic with a good reputation is more likely to have skilled Chiropractors who care about their patients and have a proven track record of helping people feel better. Use reputable sources when asking for recommendations. These days, everyone seems to hop on Facebook or other social media and ask for recommendations. This is a great way to be bombarded with advice from paid marketers, networking groups or friends of the Chiro. The best source is to find someone you KNOW PERSONALLY who uses the Chiropractor and get their honest recommendation. If you don’t know anyone locally to ask, follow the tips below.
2. Multi-Technique Approach
What to Look For: A Chiropractor who uses a variety of techniques to treat your condition.
Explanation: Every patient is different, and so is every condition. A good Chiropractor will have a multi-technique approach, meaning they use different methods to find what works best for you. Whether it’s manual adjustments, stretches, exercises, or other therapies, having multiple options allows the Chiropractor to create a personalized treatment plan that meets your specific needs. This flexibility can lead to better results and a more comfortable experience for you. There is NO MAGIC CHIROPRACTIC TECHNIQUE that is a cure-all for every possible condition. Try to find a Chiropractor that has a variety of tools in their tool bag and are willing to listen to constructive feedback from you. They should then change their approach until they find the right recipe of care that works for you individually.
3. Quality Time with the Doctor
What to Look For: A Chiropractor who spends enough time with you during each visit.
Explanation: It’s important that your Chiropractor takes the time to listen to your concerns, thoroughly examine your condition, and explain the treatment plan. You should never feel rushed during your appointment. A good Chiropractor will ensure that you have enough time to ask questions and understand your treatment. This kind of attention shows that they are genuinely interested in your health and well-being. It is becoming increasingly popular for ALL HEALTH PROVIDERS to try to fit as many people into their schedule as possible. Not only are you not getting the time you are paying for, the results are usually not ideal because the Doctor is just trying to hurry on to the next patient. This is the type of clinic that cares more about the money than the patient. In Australia, Medicare and Health Insurance Companies dictate the time required for the services they will cover. In Chiropractic Offices a standard visit should be 15 minutes in length and an extended visit is 30 minutes in length. This does include a few minutes for the Doctor to write notes but you should at least be getting 10-12 minutes of one on one time with the doctor. Additionally, the care should be provided in a private setting such as an individual treatment room and not in a big open floor plan office where all of the other people in the office can hear you discussing your care and watching you get treatment. Frankly, this is a violation of Health Care Privacy Policy and in my opinion should be considered unethical.
4. Honest and Customized Treatment Plan
What to Look For: A Chiropractor who is honest about your condition and creates a treatment plan just for you.
Explanation: A great Chiropractor will give you an honest assessment of your condition without using scare tactics. They will explain what’s going on and create a treatment plan that is specifically designed for your needs. This means they won’t recommend unnecessary treatments or try to upsell you on services that you don’t need. Instead, they’ll focus on what’s best for you and your health. While some patients respond very quickly to care, others may need a little more treatment to fully recover. You should get a recommendation to initiate a basic level of care which should then be modified and reduced as you improve. A Chiropractor should NEVER use scare tactics and high pressure sales pitches, asking you to pre-pay for un-necessary and extreme amounts of return visits. A good Chiropractor should also educate you in relation to what you’re doing to cause your problem in the first place, so you can avoid re-injury. Also, you should be given home exercises to empower you to help yourself at home, reducing the amount of Chiropractic treamtent you need.
5. Good Value for the Money and Clear Education
What to Look For: A Chiropractor who provides good value and clearly explains your condition and treatment.
Explanation: Chiropractic care should be a good investment in your health. A good Chiropractor will make sure you understand your condition, plus how the treatment will help, all without using high-pressure sales tactics. They’ll take the time to educate you about your body and the healing process, so you feel confident in the care you’re receiving. This helps you make informed decisions and ensures that you’re getting good value for your money. Imagine going into a Chiropractic office for ongoing care only to lay on a table, get 2 minutes of quick popping and cracking, then you’re up and out the door. To add insult to poor care, they charge astronomical amounts of money for the amount of time you are getting care. A good Chiropractor will be honest and ethical and should be able to clearly explain what is causing your pain. It should make clear sense to you and if it doesn’t, they should be able to take the time to answer your questions until you fully understand.
Conclusion
Choosing the right Chiropractor is an important step in taking care of your health. By looking for these key qualities, you can find a Chiropractor who is professional, caring, and committed to helping you feel your best. Remember to trust your instincts and choose a Chiropractor who meets your needs and makes you feel comfortable. I could go on and on with more key points to look for in a Chiropractor but this should give you a good head start!
5 Red Flags To Help You Avoid The Wrong Chiropractor:
1. Using Free or Highly Discounted Offers to Get You in the Door
Red Flag: The Chiropractor uses free or highly discounted offers to lure you in.
Explanation: While a free consultation or a highly discounted first visit might seem like a great deal, it can sometimes be a tactic to get you into the clinic and then pressure you into signing up for more expensive treatments. Chiropractors who rely on these offers may be more interested in getting as many patients as possible rather than providing personalized care. A good Chiropractor will focus on building trust and offering quality care from the start, rather than using gimmicks to attract patients. Think about it, when you run a business, you’re trying to make a living. In health care, we try to make a living by providing good quality care to our patients. Why would someone then offer FREE FIRST APPOINTMENTS? The answer is obvious, to get you in the door and use high pressure sales tactics to upsell you their services. Dont’ be fooled by these offers. Remember, just like with anything, you get what you pay for. I recently saw a spinal screening at a local shopping center and went to say hello to the Chiropractor. I was suprised to discover that the people doing the spinal screening were not Doctors at all but rather foreign backpackers. They told me they recieved about an hour training and were paid to get people to go into the Chiropractors office where he would then sell them a large treatment package. Can you imagine? Don’t be afraid to ask questions and remember, if something smells fishy, it probably is.
2. Repetitive Treatments Without Change
Red Flag: The clinic does the same thing over and over without assessing your progress.
Explanation: A good Chiropractor should tailor treatments to your specific needs and adjust them based on how you’re responding. If you notice that your Chiropractor is repeating the same treatment every time, without any changes or improvements, this might be a sign that they’re not paying attention to your progress. It’s important to have a treatment plan that evolves as you heal, ensuring that you get the best care possible.
3. Using Scare Tactics
Red Flag: The Chiropractor uses scare tactics to convince you to get care.
Explanation: Some Chiropractors might try to scare you into getting more treatments than necessary. They might exaggerate the seriousness of your condition or claim that you need long-term care to avoid severe consequences. This is a tactic to make you feel anxious and push you into agreeing to treatments you might not need. A trustworthy Chiropractor will explain your condition honestly and provide options without trying to frighten you. A commonly used scare tactic that some Chiropractors use is to require x-rays on every patient, regardless of age or injury. The Chiropractor then tries to identify something in the x-rays to convince you to sign up for a large treatment plan and tells you that if you don’t, you will develop problems down the road. This is a huge red flag! Remember, x-rays are generally safe and can be used to diagnose conditions that the doctor has a resonable suspicion you have, after an exam. However, x-rays DO expose you to a certain level of radiation which is a lifetime dose.
4. Signing Up for Prepaid Plans
Red Flag: The clinic pushes you to sign up for expensive prepaid plans.
Explanation: Prepaid plans can sometimes be a way for clinics to secure a lot of money upfront without providing the flexibility you need. If a Chiropractor insists that you sign up for a long-term, prepaid plan right away, it could be a red flag. You should feel comfortable with your treatment and have the option to stop or change it if it’s not working for you. Avoid clinics that pressure you into expensive plans without explaining the benefits clearly. As I stated above, every condition and patient is different. Some patients that I see literally require one adjustment to get their desired results. Others may take several treatments to get the body healing and recovering from years of abuse. Outside of a few personal injury cases, where people have been in serious car accidents, I’ve almost never seen a patient that requires 38-40 visits for a minor back or neck problem. If you’re being told that you need to sign up for a HUGE treatment plan, I’d be looking for a second opinion. If the Chiropractor has nothing to hide, and are doing everything on the up and up, they will welcome you doing this.
5. Open Floor Plan Treatment Areas
Red Flag: The clinic has an open floor plan with no privacy for treatments.
Explanation: Privacy is important when receiving Chiropractic care. An open floor plan might mean that you’re getting treated in the same space as other patients, which can be uncomfortable and distracting. It can also make it difficult to discuss your health concerns openly. Look for a Chiropractor who provides a private, comfortable setting where you can focus on your healing process without any distractions. Remember, you should take the privacy of you health care seriously and so should your Chiropractor. Providing you health care in front of everyone in town is not taking your privacy in health services seriously. Ask yourself, do you really want to be laying there on a table, telling your Chiropractor all about your problems while anyone in the room can listen in on everything you’re saying? A good Chiropractic clinic will take your health privacy seriously and treat you in a private treatment room.
Conclusion
Choosing the right Chiropractor is essential for your health. By watching out for these red flags, you can find a professional who truly cares about your well-being and provides the best care possible. Always trust your instincts and choose a Chiropractor who respects your needs and concerns.