Did you know how incredibly helpful finding a good chiropractor can be? The internet is replete with stories of chiropractors helping someone recover from a major injury, regain physical function and overall improve their quality of life, and multiple studies have shown that good chiropractic care can reduce pain and may even be able to prevent multiple illnesses.
That being said, none of this can happen if you can’t find a chiropractor who doesn’t fit your needs. This begs an important question: How can you pick the best chiropractor? While there is no set method for choosing the right chiropractor, there are a variety of things you should look into and questions you should ask to make sure a chiropractor is qualified and ready to help you.
First, before you even make a phone call, do your research into a prospective chiropractor. If you are totally starting from scratch, you can always just google the name of your regional area and “chiropractor.” From there, check out reviews on Google, Facebook or Yelp. Alternatively, you can ask for recommendations on Facebook, and follow up with what your friends say.
Once you’ve zeroed in on a prospective chiropractor, check out their website, and ask yourself a few questions:
- Does this practice convey an impression of patient-centered care?
- Is the website professionally designed, or does it look like an intern slapped it together in an hour?
- Does it list all the services they offer?
- Does it describe the type of care they provide and the injuries they treat?
- Does it list the qualifications and educational experience of every chiropractor in the office?
- What sort of insurance do they take, if any?
- How soon will I be able to get an appointment?
Last, check and make sure your prospective chiropractor hasn’t had any complaints successfully filed against them. Each state is different, so your best bet is to search for your state’s Health Department and look into complaints lodged against them. If you can’t find any, fantastic! That being said, keep in mind that a complaint is not a “successful” one – complaints may be filed, but you should really see if a judgment was entered against the chiropractor in question.
Okay! You’re now ready to contact that chiropractor’s office.
What are some questions you should ask when you contact the office?
Once you have a potential chiropractor, you should call their office and ask a few basic questions which will give you a better idea of what kind of care they practice, and what your expectations should be.
First, call the practice and ask what type of care they practice. There are many types of chiropractor types, including Gonstead, Activator, Flexion-distraction, drop table and Diversified – any many chiropractors combine techniques, depending on the patient’s needs. You should understand what each technique will consist of, and if you are comfortable with what the office provides in terms of care.
From there, describe your injury. Ask what they can do for you and how long they expect your care to take. While a specific answer may be impossible to provide, the office should be able to give you a general idea of how long it will take them to help get you back to full functionality.
Next, find out what type of evaluation your chiropractor will provide before prescribing care. Do they do X-rays? Give you a free evaluation first?
Last, find out what sort of aftercare, or “homework” the office will provide. Chiropractors will often give you exercises, stretches or postures to avoid once you leave. This is the type of preventative care that a chiropractor should provide in order to ensure long-term wellness from their patients.
Also, something to keep in mind when you call: How does the receptionist (or whoever answers the phone) respond to your questions? Remember, everyone at the chiropractor’s office is part of the treatment team, and you should get personalized, high-quality attention from everyone involved.
Picking the right chiropractor is important and requires time and attention. If you’re in the Hoover area and looking for chiropractor services, visit our website or give us a call at 205-637-1363.
