Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Good Chiropractors - How To Find Them

By Kerri Stalton

Like many others who suffer from back pain, you may have thought about the possibility of seeing a chiropractor. What you may not realize is that it's not always easy to find the right chiropractor. Of course, before you trust someone to perform spinal manipulations, you will want to make sure they are experienced in their field and will be able to provide what you need. With a bit of effort, you can find a chiropractor to help you get the treatment that you require.

Recommendations from family, friends, and co-workers can be one of the best ways to learn of a great chiropractor. Personal recommendations say a lot about a health care professional. If you can't get references to a chiropractor, try calling your insurance company. They may be able to recommend someone from their database of providers. Otherwise, you might also try checking with your primary care doctor.

Your needs are important, and you want to be sure that your chiropractor is going to meet them. The first step is to ensuring this is to check out their resume'. Find out what type of education they have received and what their professional experience has been. This can give you the peace of mind to know that they have received the necessary training.

It's also essential that the chiropractor you choose be fully accredited. Before settling on a provider, make sure they are accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education. It's also a good idea to make sure there's been no disciplinary action against the chiropractor you are considering. You can do this by checking with the Chiropractic Board of Examiners.

You'll also want to know what kind of chiropractic techniques the doctor uses. Chiropractors often use manual manipulation, and while some use low force, others use a more forceful technique. Some chiropractors do adjustments using instruments designed for the task. You'll want to make sure to ask the chiropractor you are considering what kind of techniques they favor, and how you should expect a typical session to go.

You'll want to find out if your potential chiropractor's office uses X-rays for diagnostic purposes. X-rays can be very useful in visualizing the structures of your back to find a specific diagnosis for the problem. If your doctor does have X-ray technology available, this should give you a bit of confidence.

How easy is it to work with this chiropractors office? The truth is that if it is not easy, chances are you will not keep up with your appointments. Make sure that you are able to make appointments that will work with your particular schedule. Additionally, the location of their office is important. If you are constantly driving across town it will become less and less practical to keep up with your appointments. Perhaps the most important factor to take into account is if your insurance will cover your chiropractic visits to this doctor.

Lastly, recognize that none of these other factors means much if you don't like the chiropractor. Is the doctor an attentive listener? Are you able to freely and comfortably talk to them? While this is based solely on a gut feeling, it's one you should rely on.

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