Just like a good doctor, a good chiropractor will have a great bedside manner, provide excellent treatment, show genuine care and compassion, and great communication to help you heal. Here are some quick tips to help you choose the right chiropractor for you:

1. A good chiropractor will always take the time to do a thorough health assessment before treating you. This may involve asking about your health history, reviewing x-rays, and observing your body for signs of injury or pain.

• A good chiropractor will give you a clear strategy of how they can help you. They will give you a clear plan of action on what treatments you need to get healthy and they will explain the reasons why they suggest certain therapies or treatments. Be wary of someone who won’t explain your treatment plan to you.

• A good chiropractor will be sensitive to your pain and your personal needs. They will take the time to ask you consistently about your feelings and pain levels throughout the treatment process. A good chiropractor knows that pain is the body’s sign of injury and that something is wrong.

• A good chiropractor will not stop treatment just because you’re without pain. Instead, they will work with you to restore your body to the healthiest position possible to help prevent injury without rushing the process it takes for your body to recover. However, they will also ensure to not over-treat you or pressure you into packages you may not need.

• A good chiropractor will encourage you to take a holistic approach to healing through diet, exercise, posture and stretching.  They may also suggest and work with other practitioners such as GPs, acupuncturists, physiotherapists, podiatrists and massage therapists to ensure you receive an optimum level of treatment. They will provide guidance on exercises for your own self-care so that you are not constantly dependent on their services.

• A good chiropractor will get to know you personally and make you feel comfortable. Because the body is attached to our mind and soul, your chiropractor must understand that letting someone into their personal space is a vulnerable process and therefore a great deal of empathy is needed.

Five ways to find the right chiropractor for you

1. Try to get a referral. Friends, neighbours, family, and especially your primary medical doctor may recommend a chiropractor.
2. Check if any of the recommended chiropractors are covered by your health insurance. If you receive a strong recommendation for someone not on that list, you might consider private payment or using the GP-referral scheme.
3. Do a quality check for credentials to confirm if they are a current member of the Australian Chiropractor’s Association, where they received their qualification, and if there are any claims against them.
4. Visit the practice website. Many chiropractors have websites, and these can be informative. Also look at their Facebook referrals, not just the number of stars but read the experiences of other patients.
5. You may want to make a few phone calls of local chiropractors. Ask about appointment availability, insurance coverage, hours, etc. This is to see if you are treated with patience, courtesy and respect by the chiropractor’s office.

What to look for at your first few appointments

• Does your chiropractor give sufficient time to you the first visit and on every subsequent visit?
• Does he or she appear eager to help you get better as quickly as possible and to empower you to take care of yourself in the future?
• Do you feel comfortable with your new chiropractor?
• Are you getting better as a result of the treatments and not just the mere passage of time? (When effective treatment is given, most patients will see a significant improvement within the first few weeks of care, and sometimes even sooner.)
• Is treatment physically comfortable? (Occasionally there may be some minor treatment soreness or even increase in symptoms after a treatment. This should not last more than a day or so, and improvement should be obvious with further care. If this happens, be sure to let your chiropractor know.)
• Does your chiropractor have partnerships with other healthcare providers? Chiropractic is not a miracle cure. Whoever tells you that chiropractic can solve all health problems is probably someone you shouldn’t consult. Make sure your chiropractor works with other healthcare providers as well.

A good chiropractor is compassionate and puts you first, ready to build a long-term relationship to support your health needs now and into the future.

For more information contact Lane Chiropractic Pottsville at 6676 2270.