Tips for Choosing a Chiropractor

Since the chiropractic community has become an accepted form of health care, many are asking the question as to how to choose a reputable chiropractor.

Start by asking your primary care physician, relatives, and friends. Your primary physician may have had contact with chiropractors in the area, and should be able to give you a couple of names from which to choose. Relatives and friends that have had chiropractic treatment can be your best source of referral. They are actual cases that can tell you of their experiences with certain chiropractors and will either recommend them, or advise you otherwise. When the same practitioner's name comes up over, and over, that is the one to consider.

Interview the chiropractor, either by phone or by requesting a consultation visit. Ask questions about your particular problem and how much experience he/she has in treating ailments such as yours. Ask about the procedures or techniques and approximately, how many visits it should take to see improvement. It is important that you are comfortable and confident in the skills of the chiropractor.

If you are involved in a personal injury case, workers compensation, or an auto accident, you should seek out a chiropractor that is familiar with the system and knows what reporting is required. The same is true if you suffer from a sports injury, look for a chiropractor that specialized in your particular type of injury.

Ask for credentials. Chiropractors are required to obtain a Doctor of Chiropractic degree; however some will, simply out of a commitment to their art, hold additional degrees in fields such as radiology or traditional medicine. The more knowledge they have, the more likely they are to be a well-qualified chiropractor.

Check out the office environment. It should be clean, orderly, and well run. The practitioner should appear to be in great physical condition. It takes quite a bit of physical effort to manipulate a stubborn spine!

X-rays should be taken prior to treatment to rule out fractures in some cases such as head or neck injury and an MRI may be needed. You don't want a chiropractor that just starts manipulation without ruling out other possible causes or your pain. Chiropractic work on a fractured spine could result in paralysis.

The chiropractor should discuss the treatment plan with you and any risks that may be associated with treatment. A full medical history should be taken during the initial visit before starting or recommending treatment.

The practice should be limited to conservative treatment of musculoskeletal problems and not offer additional treatments such as vitamin or herbal therapies. Most of all, after all criteria is met, you should feel comfortable with the treatment plan and the chiropractor.

Article Source: http://www.articlesofinformation.com

Golinsky Chiropractic (rxwellness.net) is a Dulles chiropractor and a leading provider of chiropractic services located in Herndon, Virginia. Art Gib is a freelance writer.

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