How to choose a Chiropractor (Part 3 “The Summary”)

Here’s a recap of Parts 1 and 2 with some additions.

Top 10 questions to ask when looking for a Chiropractor

1. Do you take X-rays based upon clinical findings and not just as part of a standard routine? There should be some clinical relevance as to why X-rays are taken.  Taking X-rays to just look for subluxations is not a good clinical reason.  Some good clinical reasons are to look for any spinal abnormalities such as fusion, tumors or degeneration.
2. Do you accurately measure all objective data? Postural analysis, Gait analysis, Surface Electromyograph, Muscle Response Testing, Active and Passive ranges of motion, Muscle length, Palpation tenderness, Reflex point analysis and Basic examination procedures.  Takes the time to do a thorough clinical examination and uses findings to produce an adequate treatment plan.
3. Do you manipulate the extremities as well as the spine?  You will not achieve balance by only manipulation of the spine.  If you walk on two feet, those need to be balanced as well as everything else along the chain!
4. Do you use other healing modalities in conjunction with spinal and extraspinal manipulation (such as Low Level Laser Therapy, Nutrition therapy, color therapy, sound therapy, brain balance techniques, ultrasound, ice, heat, soft tissue work and postural correction exercises)?
5. Do you use different adjustment methods such as manual and instrument adjusting? Sometimes, it may be a bad idea to give a forceful adjustment (let’s say severe osteoporosis).  Or a person just may not be comfortable with a high velocity manual adjustment.
6. Do you use some form of muscle testing? Muscle testing will tell you if the surrounding muscles of a joint actually stabilize the joint and allows proper joint movement.  Muscles move bones.  If the muscles are not balanced, your spine and other joints will not be balanced.
7. How do you determine my treatment plan? (If you are in acute pain – like it just happened cause you were in some sort of accident – then intensive treatment may be warranted.) But be weary when some Chiropractors jump the gun and tell you that you’ll need to come in every day or 3 times a week for like 6 months straight. It means that he’s really not doing his job effectively or he/she needs to pay off his/her Porsche.
8. Are you willing to refer me out to other practitioners if you cannot help me?
9. Are you adept at reading and interpreting laboratory results?
   
10. Is it mandatory that I keep my treatment schedule or do I have a say in my treatment plan? I’ve seen a lot of docs tell patients that they MUST attend a spinal care class or they MUST not miss their appointments. While this is great, no one should be forced into doing anything they don’t want to.  Remember you are in control of your health.

3 Big things to consider:

1. Do you feel comfortable with the doctor? This is probably the most important thing to look for and will determine if your treatment program will be successful. I have to admit that when a patient feels uncomfortable with me, my personality, or my treatment methods, they don’t get the results that we both desire. Make sure that you feel confident that the doctor can truly help you. If you’re unsure about these things, you probably won’t experience the full healing capacity of your body.
2. Is the doctor being real or just trying to get money out of you? There’s nothing worse than the “used car-salesman pitch.” I hear it all the time with all sorts of practitioners. You have to be certain that the doctor has YOUR best interests in mind rather than THEIRS. A good/honest doctor will give you recommendations that will maximize your healing capabilities rather than try to “sell” you on things you don’t need.
3. Ask the doctor if the only way he/she determines the area of subluxation is through X-ray. If the answer to this inquiry is YES, walk away. There’s nothing that disturbs me more than docs who say they determine spinal subluxations only from X-ray. You can see spinal distortions on X-ray, but to determine the area of subluxation requires more than just examining a radiograph. Subluxations should be determined through a thorough clinical examination which should include – at minimum – postural evaluation (both static and walking), palpation (feeling how the joints move), muscle testing and soft tissue evaluation.

All in all, I believe that everyone on this planet should be under the care of a Chiropractor.  My purpose for writing this guide is to help you separate the average ones from the better ones.  If you’re not under the care of a Chiropractor or have discontinued care, please stop reading right now and ask yourself “why am I not under care?”