When I drive down the street these days, it seems like there’s a chiropractor on every corner. The hard part is figuring out which chiropractor to go to. You may be reading this and thinking, “I thought all chiropractors just take steps to relieve back pain.” That is the furthest thing from the truth.
Yes, there are chiropractors who perform what Dr. Tony Palermo describes as the “FTHSAMI” (Find the High Spot and Crush It) technique. And there are chiropractors who do not make adjustments, but offer nutritional advice.
Chiropractors differ in their techniques just as much as doctors. In medicine, you have orthopedists, podiatrists, gastroenterologists, proctologists, OB/GYNs, and the list goes on and on.
It is the same with chiropractic. You may see someone who does Blair Upper Cervical, NUCCA, Gonstead, Diversified Applied Kinesiology, Thompson, CBP, Neuro-Emotional Technique, Logan basic, BEST and again the list can go on and on.
what to look for
Finding a good chiropractor is not difficult, it may just require a bit of due diligence on your part. I have put together some criteria that I think helps you find a good chiropractor that you are comfortable with.
1.) Excellent Phone Etiquette: Calling different chiropractic offices is where you will probably start. Make sure that when you call, the person answering on the other end of the line is sociable and friendly.
Also, make sure they can explain what they do to you. Getting someone like Thelma, 65, who has a voice deeper than Barry White from smoking two packs of cigarettes a day since she was sixteen, is probably the first and only indication that you need to move on from that office.
2.) Great office staff- The chiropractic assistant (CA) at the front desk has to be friendly and helpful. Nobody likes filling out paperwork and forms or new patient packets. If the CA at the front desk can get you through your first day grind without giving you a headache, that’s key.
This person also handles payment arrangements and scheduling. Make sure they schedule you for at least two weeks of appointments from the start. This way, you won’t waste time trying to schedule your next appointment after each visit.
3.) Great Aesthetics– This is where you walk into a chiropractic office and your first thought is “Wow!” The environment is peaceful, clean, organized and flows smoothly.
Walking into some place where the doctor has a collection of worn-out old furniture from a junkyard, the paint is peeling, and the front desk looks like someone took a leaf blower to a pile of papers, that’s your cue to stop! get out of there quick! This is something you’ll notice as soon as you walk in, or at least you should.
4.) The doctor is an effective communicator- Sure, the chiropractor may be the most skilled in his technique. But if they don’t explain it to you in a way that you understand and understand the importance of your care, who cares how good they are at their technique?
An effective chiropractor will be able to explain your situation and how you can correct it. If they don’t tell you anything or pretend you don’t understand, that’s your sign. I have seen chiropractors who think they know everything and the patient knows nothing. It’s not a fun time, I assure you.
5.) The doctor does a pre and post analysis– If you go to see your traditional diversified chiropractor “FTHSAMI”, you can also go to a physiotherapist or an osteopath. The point is not to move the bones, it is to detect and correct vertebral subluxations. Ways a doctor can monitor this are X-rays, leg checks, CT scans, or muscle testing.
You want a chiropractor who can find a subluxation, if you have one. If it does, you want the chiropractor to correct it. Lastly, you want the chiropractor to make sure the subluxation is removed. Vertebral subluxations are so life-altering, especially in the upper cervical spine, that you better make sure your chiropractor can correct them properly.
6.) Know Which Technique You Prefer- It is important to know which technique a doctor uses to correct a subluxation. Not everyone likes the same chiropractic technique. The Blair and NUCCA Upper Cervical techniques use a manual adjustment. Some people may prefer an Orthospinology or Atlas Orthogonal adjustment, which uses a tool instead. You might like applied kinesiology, which takes a whole-body approach and does its analysis using muscle testing. It really depends on you.
You have to know what you are looking for. Do some research online. It is not difficult to know the different techniques. Once you do, find out which doctors use that particular technique in your area. Here is a great website to do just that. If your chiropractor has these six components as part of his practice, chances are he’s in good shape. If any of these are missing, look for a chiropractic office that has all of these components. They are out there. You just have to search.
