The Biggest Challenge Finding Quality Chiropractic Care
The public relies on chiropractors to deliver the highest quality care to them but in reality most people have no clue what good chiropractic care is, how it works, what it looks like, and what the risks of poor care are.
I’ve been in practice for more than 3 decades and I’ve seen it all. I recently had a new client come in because his last chiropractor had his license revoked. Now, that’s an extreme example but it serves to emphasize choosing wisely.
The Biggest Problem in Chiropractic
When you seek the services of any professional you hope they have continued to improve over their time in practice. It reminds me of the saying about someone in practice for 20 years. They might have 20 years of experience, learning and improvement or they could have a single year repeated 20 times. Which do you want?
SO…HERE ARE 5 WARNING SIGNS!
WARNING SIGN #1 = MINIMAL EXAMINATION
The spine is the body’s interface with the spinal cord and central nervous system. Far too many chiropractors barely put their hands on people to evaluate what is going on and what needs to be done. At your first visit if your chiropractor really didn’t perform an exam.
You have to ask yourself if they didn’t put hands on your spine, feel how each joint moves, where the restrictions are, how could they have any idea what is going on in your body? There’s a lot more they should have done on the exam than that but if a chiropractor is going to adjust you they need to do a hands on exam of your spine.
WARNING SIGN #2 = NO EXAM EACH VISIT
If you go to a chiropractor who does the same adjustments each and every visit without determining what needs to be done beforehand you need to do one thing, run from that office and don’t look back.
Yes, quite frequently the same or similar adjustments need to be performed over a series of visits. But, that’s quite different from making the assumption they need to be done without checking. After all, aren’t you looking for a correction? If so, how would the chiropractor know if something was corrected without checking?
Sometimes a vertebra that gets adjusted regularly will not need to be adjusted on every single visit.
WARNING SIGN #3 = YOU ARE NOT FEELING SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER
It’s ok to want a miracle, just don’t expect one. But, it is reasonable to experience improvement shortly after starting your chiropractic care. How soon? That depends on the severity and chronicity of your issue as well as your general level of health and the health of your spine.
In general I would expect some improvement within a few weeks and while the improvement might fluctuate it is reasonable to expect progressive improvement. If you’ve had a chronic or recurrent issue for years it’s not unreasonable for it to take a few weeks before you feel improvement.
If you ask your chiropractor about when you might start feeling some improvement are you satisfied with their response?
WARNING SIGN #4 = YOU FEEL MORE SORE AFTER YOUR VISIT
Here again there are no absolutes. If you work out extra hard or go for a long hike it’s reasonable to experience some post exercise soreness. If you have spinal joints that haven’t moved in years you can expect the possibility of some post adjustment soreness.
Occasionally there can be an increase in pain but this is not something you should have to accept on an ongoing basis. Any increase in pain should be an alert to modify the treatment plan.
WARNING SIGN #5 = YOUR DOCTOR DOESN’T EXPLAIN YOUR CARE
Each visit is a clone of the previous visit. This is a big RED FLAG as it violates the idea that we are seeking change. At the very least look at WARNING SIGN #2 NO EXAM EACH VISIT. You want a chiropractor who is going to assess each and every visit what needs to be done. Some areas will likely require repeated adjustments and other areas might only need to be adjusted a few times. Either way you want a chiropractor who is assessing your needs each and every visit.
Chiropractic can be amazing in helping you to feel better, function better, and perform your best. Doesn’t it make sense to find the chiropractor that is the best match for your needs? Find a chiropractor who takes the time each visit to determine what your body needs and who listens to you.
About Dr. Berkowitz of Life Chiropractic:
Bringing more than 3 decades of practice experience, Dr. Bill Berkowitz focuses on balancing and corrective care, applying his expertise to provide patients with predictable, repeatable and measurable results.
Dr. Bill consistently strives to enhance the well-being of his patients by addressing the root imbalances of their problems and promoting optimal balance, alignment, and function of the spine and nervous system.
Bill’s wealth of knowledge and experience has allowed him to develop a nuanced understanding of the human body and its intricate connections. With each adjustment, he supports the body in returning to a state of balance that goes beyond mere symptom relief, focusing instead on long-term correction for his patients’ well-being.
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