How to Choose a Chiropractor
When patients move, or are traveling, they sometimes need the services of a chiropractor.
I am often asked for some suggestions on selecting a wellness-oriented chiropractor
who will help you to attain your personal health goals, and maximise your potential
for experiencing life.
What not to do.
If the best chiropractor for you happens to have an office nearby, that's great.
But don't let location be the primary basis for your choice. Don't base your selection
on an attractive sign, or a large advert in the yellow pages.
Important factors for choosing a wellness chiropractor -
Ask
your friends. If you have friends who share your
perspective on health and wellness, ask for a recommendation. You can ask your
friend candid questions about the chiropractor, the staff, fees, availability,
and services offered. More importantly, your friend, who knows both you and the
chiropractor, may be able to tell whether your health philosophies and personalities
are compatible.
- Meet the chiropractor. Most chiropractors
will be willing to meet you for a consultation to determine whether you are a
good match. Make productive use of this visit. You want to know whether the practice
is right for you, and whether you feel comfortable with the chiropractor. Things
to ask and look for:-
- Does
the chiropractor look healthy? If the chiropractor does not live a healthy
lifestyle, this speaks volumes regarding their commitment to wellness. If they
smell of tobacco smoke, are obese, or otherwise appear unhealthy, this is a concern.
- Do
the two of you "click"? You are entering into a very special relationship.
Approach it as you would any long-term commitment. Do you like each other? Does
the chiropractor seem rushed? Do you communicate well with each other? Avoid a
chiropractor who seems rushed, or talks down to you. You want a partner and a
coach, not a surrogate parent.
- Does
the practice focus on vertebral subluxation and wellness? We experience life
through our nervous systems. Physical, biochemical, and psychological distress
may result in spinal subluxations, which disrupt nerve function, and compromise
your ability to adapt to the environment. It is essential that this be the focus
of your wellness chiropractor, since some chiropractors choose to confine their
practices to the mechanical treatment of back and neck pain.
- How
often does the chiropractor have chiropractic themselves? The ideal would
be weekly, however, if it's less frequently than once a month then they obviously
don't value their own treatment. Chiropractic keeps you well. The people who should
understand this the best are chiropractors.
- How
you will be evaluated?
The focus of chiropractic is on the nervous system, which is the master control
system of your body. Fortunately, there are modern, non-invasive ways, which permit
your chiropractor to objectively and subjectively evaluate the function of your
nerve system. By establishing a baseline when you begin care, the information
from further evaluations help chart your progress. It also assists you and your
chiropractor in determining how physical, biochemical, and psychological distress
leads to subluxations. Although feeling good is important to you, your care should
not be based simply on whether you have pain or other symptoms. Like dental cavities,
high blood pressure, and many health conditions, spinal subluxations may exist
without symptoms. Objective assessments of nerve function are a must. Some chiropractors
may do additional exams, such as x-rays. X-rays should be taken only if necessary,
after an examination is made.
- What
types of techniques are used?
If you have been to a chiropractor before, you may have a preference for a specific
technique. There are many different techniques in chiropractic. Some include adjustments
by hand, low-force techniques, and adjustments using instruments. The important
thing is that the right technique for you is available. Ask the doctor about what
technique will be used if this is important to you.
- Training. Educational
and licensing standards for doctors of chiropractic are now standardised. Unfortunately,
there are no speciality training programs specifically for wellness chiropractors
but ask where and how they were trained.
- Fees. Health
insurance really isn't "health" insurance, it is illness insurance. Most health
policies will only cover services that address specific conditions. If you have
a specific health issue, such as back or neck pain, your insurance may pay a portion
of your chiropractor's fee. However, don't let your choice of chiropractor be
dictated by whether or not your insurance will pay or not. After your examination,
the chiropractor should explain to you the proposed course of care, and the fees.
In summary
The value of chiropractic care in formulating a total strategy for health and
well-being is immense. The key is finding a doctor of chiropractic whose philosophy,
values, and personality are compatible with yours. Why
not talk to Sue or Allyn about wellness chiropractic care now?
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