Choosing a chiropractor
By Christopher Kent, D.C.
Recently I discussed chiropractic
care, and the critical role it plays in health and well-being.
Many of you asked for some suggestions on selecting a wellness-oriented
chiropractor who will help you to attain your personal
health goals, and maximize your potential for experiencing
life.
What
NOT to do. If the best doctor for you happens to have an
office nearby, that’s great. But don’t let
location be the primary basis for your choice. Don’t
base your selection on an attractive sign, or a large ad
in the phone directory.
Important factors for choosing a wellness
chiropractor:
1.
Ask your friends. If you have friends who share
your perspective on health and wellness, ask for a recommendation.
You can ask your friend candid questions about the doctor,
the staff, fees, availability, and services offered. More importantly,
your friend, who knows both you and the chiropractor, may
be able to tell whether your health philosophies and personalities
are compatible.
2. Meet the doctor. Most chiropractors will be willing to
meet you for a consultation at no cost to determine whether
you are a good match. Make productive use of this visit.
You want to know whether the practice is right for you, and
whether you feel comfortable with the doctor. Things to ask
and look for:
A. Does the doctor look healthy? If
the doctor does not live a healthy lifestyle, this speaks
volumes regarding their commitment to wellness. If the doctor
smells of tobacco smoke, is obese, or otherwise appears unhealthy,
this is a concern.
B. Do the two of you "click"? You
are entering into a very special relationship. Approach it
as you would any long-term commitment. Do you like each other?
Does the doctor seem rushed? Do you communicate well with
each other? Avoid a doctor who seems rushed, or talks down
to you. You want a partner and a coach, not a surrogate parent.
C. Does the practice focus on vertebral
subluxation and wellness? We experience life through
our nervous systems. Physical, biochemical, and psychological
distress may result in spinal subluxations, which disrupt
nerve function, and compromise your ability to adapt to the
environment. It is essential that this be the focus of your
wellness chiropractor, since some chiropractors choose to
confine their practices to the mechanical treatment of back
and neck pain.
3.
How you will be evaluated? The focus of chiropractic
is on the nervous system, which is the master control system
of your body. Fortunately, there are modern, non-invasive
instruments, which permit your chiropractor to objectively
evaluate the function of your nerve system. One such instrument
is the Insight Subluxation Station ™. This instrument
includes a surface EMG, which measures the electrical activity
in your muscles, and a thermal scanner, which evaluates
the function of your autonomic nervous system. This is
the part of your nerve system that controls your organs,
glands, and blood vessels. The Insight Subluxation Station™ is
registered with the FDA, and the recommended protocols
and reference data are from peer-reviewed journals.
By establishing a baseline when you begin care, the information
from the scans helps chart your progress. It also assists
you and your chiropractor in determining how physical, biochemical,
and psychological distress leads to subluxations.
Although feeling
good is important to you, your care should not be based
simply on whether you have pain or other symptoms. Like
dental cavities, high blood pressure, and many health conditions,
spinal subluxations may exist without symptoms. Objective
assessments of nerve function are a must.
Some chiropractors
may do additional exams, such as x-rays. X-rays should be taken
only if necessary, after an examination is made.
4.
What types
of techniques are used? If you have been to a chiropractor
before, you may have a preference for a specific technique.
There are many different techniques in chiropractic. Some include
adjustments by hand, low-force techniques, and adjustments
using instruments. The important thing is that the right technique
for you is available. Ask the doctor about what technique will
be used if this is important to you.
5. Training. Educational and licensing standards for doctors
of chiropractic are now standardized. Unfortunately, there
are no specialty training programs specifically for wellness
chiropractors. However, there are some seminar programs,
such as the Total Solution ™ course, offered by the
Chiropractic Leadership Alliance, which train full-spectrum,
wellness-oriented chiropractors.
6.
Fees. Health insurance really isn’t "health" insurance,
it is illness insurance. Most health policies will only cover
services that address specific conditions. If you have a
specific health issue, such as back or neck pain, your insurance
may pay a portion of your chiropractor’s fee. If you
have no symptoms, insurance generally does not cover the
cost of wellness care.
After your examination, the chiropractor
should explain to you the proposed course of care, and the
fees and payment options. Many wellness chiropractors are
able to offer affordable fees by eliminating the cost of
billing insurance.
7.
If you have insurance, check to see if chiropractic
care is covered, and the extent of the coverage.
The value of
chiropractic care in formulating a total strategy for health
and well-being is immense. The key is finding a doctor of chiropractic
whose philosophy, values, and personality are compatible with
yours.
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About
Dr. Kent
Christopher Kent, D.C., FCCI, president of the Council
on Chiropractic Practice, is a 1973 graduate of Palmer College
of Chiropractic. He is a Fellow of the College of Chiropractic
Imaging, and formerly specialized in magnetic resonance imaging.
Named the International Chiropractors Association (ICA) "Chiropractic
Researcher of the Year" in 1991, he was the recipient
of that honor from World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA) in 1994.
Dr.
Kent was selected 1998 "Chiropractor of the Year" by
ICA. He is a co-founder of the Chiropractic Leadership Alliance
with Dr. Patrick Gentempo, Jr. Dr. Kent is also the main
representative for the WCA to the Department of Public Information,
affiliated with the United Nations, and chair of the NGO
Health Committee. He is the author of over 100 articles in
peer-reviewed and popular journals, a contributor to textbooks,
and a member of the postgraduate faculties of several chiropractic
colleges.
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Related
Articles:
Beyond Bad Backs: What Chiropractic Is and How It
Can Help You
The Evolving Science of Chiropractic Philosophy,
Part I