By Dr. Ryan Lee
Many of us may have never tried chiropractic care before. Even if we have, we definitely have had a different experience at different offices.
Just like other health care professionals, chiropractors have different specialties and techniques based on their training and experience. So, what should you look for to find the right chiropractor for you?
Below are the top 5 qualities to look for!
1) What health concerns are you trying to resolve?
Some chiropractors focus specifically on patients who are in pain, from either car accidents, work injuries, or some other trauma. Others may have a specialty in sports or pediatrics. And others may focus on helping their patients reach their health goals, be it by increasing mobility, improving their athletic function, or naturally relieving health conditions such as asthma, heartburn, or migraines.
Chiropractic care often can remove the pain of injuries within a few visits. However, when your spine gets out of alignment from an injury or repetitive stress motion, the soft tissue surrounding it grows to adapt to that bad alignment, so the soft tissue actively tries to pull the spine back into that old alignment recreating some of the pain and dysfunction you were originally experiencing. Therefore, most chiropractors recommend continued care even after your pain is gone.
2) What experience are you looking for?
When you visit different chiropractic offices, you will that some of their offices are set up similarly to a physical therapists office, with a big open room concept, while others look like a general physician’s office, with closed rooms for privacy as you get adjusted, and some are a mix of both.
In addition to office layouts, you will also find differences in how exams and adjustments are performed. Due to this, there are different techniques used. During an exam, some Chiropractors utilize x-rays while others don’t.
When adjusting, some Chiropractors only perform adjustments on the neck or perform similar adjustments on all patients, while others customize their adjustments per their patients needs and adjust the neck, back, arms, legs, feet, or other extremities that focus specifically on the issues presented.
3) What is this going to cost?
Most often after seeing if the doctor is qualified and has the needed expertise to fix our problem, our brain goes to, how much will the adjustment cost.
The cost will differ greatly dependent on the experience you are looking to receive. If you are looking for a quick fix opposed to a long-term correction, then there are chiropractors who offer a walk-in clinic environment and charge a lower fee.
But, if you are looking to find the root cause of your health condition and then get it treated for good, then the doctor will need to see you for a longer period of time and may prescribe physiotherapy, spinal remodeling, ultra sound, or bracing, to get you the correction you are looking for. In the United States, the average range for a visit to the chiropractor is $30-$200 per visit, with the average being around $65.
4) What type of chiropractic technique are you looking for?
There are over 300 different types of chiropractic adjusting techniques. Most are performed by the chiropractor’s hands, while others are performed by mechanical instruments.
Some techniques only work on certain joints in the spine, while others adjust every joint in the body, even down to your toes! There are soft techniques for patients who do not appreciate hearing the, popping, sound from a chiropractic adjustment, and there are more forceful techniques that move a lot of the joints and produce a lot of popping sounds.
Check and see what techniques the chiropractor you are looking into specializes in. If you don’t know what kind of adjusting technique is right for you, be sure to ask the chiropractor to explain them when you go in for your initial consult.
5) Who is the best fit to help you accomplish your goals?
Trust is the most important quality in finding the right chiropractor for you. You need to be able to have the confidence in the chiropractor you choose that they can help you with your health condition.
You may have learned about the chiropractor through their online health blog, an in-person event, or from a friend or family member. In any health care field, it is always a good idea to look at their reviews. Checking on social media, google and the chiropractor’s website for video and written testimonials to see if they are a good fit for you is a great place to start.
Once you have determined if the chiropractor can address your health concerns and offers the experience you are looking for, set up your initial consolation. As much as the doctor is evaluating your concerns to see if you are a good fit for chiropractic, use that time to evaluate the doctor to see if they are a good fit for you!
What to Expect at Reach Health and Wellness Chiropractic
*This content is strictly the opinion of Dr. Ryan Lee and is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Dr. Lee does not take responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.
Reach Health and Wellness Chiropractic is located in the Chattanooga, Tennessee area specifically in Collegedale, TN, a short distance from Ooltewah, Cleveland, East Brainerd, East Ridge, Ringgold, Apison, and Harrison.
