It can be tough finding a chiropractor that you can trust and who will be the right fit for what you want and need. This list is by no means comprehensive but over the years I have noticed trends that can help you pick the right doctor of chiropractic for you and your family.
- What style of Chiropractic do you prefer? Chiropractors have a fairly broad scope of practice and have expertise in many different styles and methods. Do a little research on the doctor before you go in. Read the doctor’s bio. Look at how they practice. Some chiropractors just adjust, which is what we do in our office. Some emphasize nutrition. A lot of chiropractors really want to treat the whole body and have a lot of extra equipment and programs to help improve your health on all levels. Others only focus on pain relief. Every chiropractor has their own individual style but there are also various technique systems. There is Gonstead, Applied Kinesiology, Activator, Sacro-Occipital Technique, and the list goes on. If you know you like a style, look for a doc who practices that way. If you have no preference, in terms of style, look for someone with similar values or who is likeminded.
- What type of care do you want/need? There are basically three types of care and some chiropractors do all three and some only do one or two. The three types of care are acute or symptom care, corrective or rehab care, and maintenance. It can be frustrating to see a chiropractor who only wants to do long term corrective care if you only want to focus on your symptoms. Likewise, it can be a problem if you really want corrective care and to rehab from an injury and the doctor only wants to see you when you have pain. On that same note, some patients are put off by chiropractors who recommend nutritional supplements, orthotics, pillows, or other corrective equipment. Other patients want and need a bigger commitment to improving their health. Finally, some chiropractic offices have physiotherapies like electrical stimulation, lasers, ultrasound, heat, massaging tables, and ice packs. Therapy takes longer to utilize. Some patients like the extra time spent in the office. Others just want a quick treatment. The type of care may change based on your symptoms and healing progress so be sure to find a chiropractor who can either adapt or is in line with what you need at the moment.
- How far away is the doctor’s practice from where you live or work? This may seem obvious but I see people all of the time who come from a long way away because their friend referred me or they didn’t put in their location in the search parameters before they read my reviews. Most chiropractors will want to see you more in the beginning sometimes as much as every day. Travel time and gas costs add up. It is best to decide early if commuting to get adjusted is worth it. You also need to consider if it is better to find a doc closer to your work or to your home depending on your work hours and the doctor’s schedule.
- Do the doctor’s hours work for your schedule? Most people lead busy lives. There is a lot to do in a day. You need to consider whether your doctor’s hours and schedule work for your lifestyle. Does early work for you or do need someone open late? Are they open on the weekend? Further, do they require an appointment or do they take walk-ins? Most doctors prefer to make appointments for new patients and some always require an appointment. You need to decide if it is better for you to have scheduled appointments or not? On that same note, if the doctor only takes appointments, do they run on-time?
- Do the doctor’s fees work for your budget? Healthcare these days is expensive. Doctors have a lot of overhead because of licensure, regulation and the cost of rent and payroll. Because of that, doctors’ fees range greatly. A good rule of thumb is to ask how much an adjustment costs. Chiropractic Economics Magazine puts the national average cost of an adjustment at $65. Most docs will charge more for therapies and other services, so keep that in mind. Whatever the fees, make sure you have a way to pay for the cost of the care you need. Most chiropractors have plans that can help save you some money if you pre-pay. Insurance can also help but is not always very reliable. Going in with a fair idea of what it will cost definitely helps you make a good buying decision. If money is a concern, discussing fees with the doctor after they have a good idea of what you care will look like is very important.
***Photo by Benjamin Dada on Unsplash