How to Find the Best Chiropractor

Choosing the right chiropractor is very important, which is why we want to share how to find the best chiropractor for your needs. A good chiropractor can help to find the root cause of your pain, and help fix your condition. Chiropractic care is used in conjunction with an integrative medical approach to care. This guide is meant to provide everything you need to choose your chiropractor in confidence, including all the secrets that will save you time and money!

What is Chiropractic?

Your central nervous system controls everything in your body (brain and spinal cord). Your spine is the bones that surround your spinal cord to protect it. You also have nerves that come off of each spinal segment that branch off the spinal cord. All the spinal bones are supposed to move. When they aren’t moving as they should, it disrupts the signals that are coming from the spine to wherever that nerve goes. This will diminish the function of that nerve. Once a chiropractor restores the normal motion segment integrity, the nerves are no longer compromised. When a nerve is not irritated, it will function like it’s supposed to. When it works as it should, you will feel like you should.

Oftentimes we are just in need of a maintenance adjustment to keep our nervous system functioning properly. You can read more about maintenance adjustments in our article here– Should I go to the chiropractor when I’m not in pain?  

You may benefit from seeing a chiropractor if you are experiencing these symptoms or conditions:

• Headaches
• Low Back Pain
• Neck Pain
• Disc Injuries
• Upper Back Pain
• Shoulder Pain
• Elbow Pain
• Hip Pain
• Knee Pain
• Sciatica
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Golfer’s Elbow
• Tennis Elbow
• Neuropathy
• Bursitis

How Do You Find the Best Chiropractor?

These five tips will help you find the right chiropractor for your needs.

1. Get a reference from the ones you are close to and can trust, family, and friends. You can also request a recommendation from your family doctor. Try to get a few suggestions so you can verify insurance coverage. If they don’t take insurance, they still may be a great option — some chiropractors opt-out of accepting insurance due to the rigorous insurance processes.
2. Do your research about the chiropractor before going to him/her.
   • You can check their credentials by accessing your state licensing board website to confirm and check if their qualifications are legitimate.
   • You can do your internet search about the person, to find out more information. Search their name and location. Their practice information, reviews, and other health grade sites will likely result.
   • Most chiropractors have their websites. Visit their website to learn about their clinic setting, ambiance, staff, treatments, and whether or not they are patient-oriented. Knowing this information ahead of time will put you at ease.
3. Read your doctor’s background or resume to know whether he/she has a similar experience to treat your condition. Consider the chiropractor’s expertise. Their experience will tell you how much you can trust him/her to treat your condition. You can even ask how many patients he/she treated with the same condition. If you need a specific procedure, ask how many of the procedures the chiropractor has performed and find out about complications as well as your own risk of complications.
4. Reading surveys and reviews reveal what other people have to say about a chiropractor. It provides insight into how the chiropractor provides care, as well as how his or her practice operates. Patient satisfaction surveys can provide this information. Surveys or reviews typically ask people about their experience with scheduling appointments, wait times, office environment, and office staff friendliness. You can learn about how well patients trust the chiropractor, how much time he or she spends with their patients, and how well he or she answers questions.
5. Make a few phone calls based on your top chiropractor choices. Ask them about prices, availability, treatment plans, insurance coverage, etc. All of these details will vary among each chiropractor.

Chiropractic Adjustment Methods

Chiropractors typically use more than one to tailor treatment to their patients’ needs. These are five of the most common techniques used in chiropractic offices:

1. Gonstead technique

This hands-on technique often involves adjusting the low back or pelvis as the patient lies on his side. Chiropractors use it to realign joints, reduce pain and stiffness, and increase mobility.

2. Activator technique

A handheld adjusting device delivers gentle pressure into the vertebral segments of the spine or the extremities. The force feels like a light thumping sensation. It is commonly used to treat everything from low back pain to certain types of headaches, like migraines.

3. Flexion-distraction technique

Also called decompression manipulation, it’s used in more than half of all chiropractic clinics, and a method of choice when treating disc herniations, facet joint pain, scoliosis, and other conditions. You will feel a gentle, stretching motion.

4. Drop-table technique

This involves a specially adapted table with padded platforms designed to drop a fraction of an inch when the chiropractor applies a quick thrust to adjust. The subtle dropping motion, which patients feel as vibration, makes it very comfortable for most patients.

5. Diversified technique

This method is similar to the Gonstead technique. It’s considered the most widely used technique involving very precise hands-on thrusts aimed at restoring proper movement and alignment to the spine.

There are several other types of instrument adjustment techniques, such as the Graston, Pulstar, Arthro-stim, etc. Knowing the technique(s) your chiropractor is going to use can be of great value. You can let them know which one you prefer. You have to find what works best for you. Not everyone will respond to the same technique. For the best chiropractic care and treatment, see a chiropractor who is experienced in more than just one chiropractic technique.

Treatment Plans and Patient Awareness

Treatment Plans

Your chiropractor should understand your medical history, then do a physical examination. If your condition requires it, they may do x-rays or other diagnostic imaging. The treatment plan may involve one or more adjustments in which the doctor manipulates your joints, using a controlled, sudden force to improve range and quality of motion either by hand or using an adjusting instrument. Many chiropractors include a whole-body approach to your treatment plan, which may consist of natural pain management techniques, nutritional counseling, lifestyle tips like sleep posture, proper footwear, and exercise/rehabilitation.

Patient Awareness

Once you’ve had a chance to visit your new chiropractor for several weeks of care, you should experience positive results after treatments. If time is passing with no improvement, you should reevaluate your chiropractor choice and ask him/her to refer you for further diagnosis.

Be on the lookout for warning signs during your chiropractic office visits such as:

• Unnecessary or repeat x-rays
• Months of endless care without re-examination
• No improvement or even worsening and does not refer you for referral for further evaluation/diagnosis

Chiropractic is an alternative health treatment method used to align your spine. Spine alignment allows for your central nervous system to function correctly. Chiropractic care aims to address the entire body, including a person’s ability to move, perform, and even think. This is a guide that you can follow to reach your chiropractic needs and to find the best chiropractor for you.

If you’re local to the Central Florida area, we’d love to see you at Glover Chiropractic Clinic. You can read more about our clinic on our website- GloverChiro.com.