Seven Big Mistakes People Make When
Choosing A Chiropractor
"I never learned anything that I already knew."
~Peter Ralston
1. Not understanding what chiropractic is.
You may have been to a chiropractor or even several. But the odds are good that you really don't grasp what chiropractic is. And if you don't know what real chiropractic is then how can you make a smart choice. Your families chiropractor is one of the most imporant health care decisions you will make. We've provided a great deal of information for you to really understand what chiropractic is and what you should be getting from your chiropractor. The old saying is, "I never learned anything I already knew" so don't assume you understand it yet.
2. Picking a chiropractor who isn't focused on their purpose as a chiropractor.
A doctor whose goal is to simply see as many people as they can in a day is not in practice to perfect their art for the benefit of their clients. And a chiropractor that is burnt out and doesn’t care enough to recommend regular wellness care for you and your family doesn’t deserve to be your chiropractor and more than a dentist who only wants to see you when you have a toothache. Fluff treatment without ongoing patient assessment and specific adjusting technique is not good chiropractic care.
3. Thinking all chiropractors are the same.
When you went to school was everybody in your class exactly the same? Of course not. It’s no different with any professional degree as well. Not all doctors have the same natural skill, knowledge or passion about what they do. I’ve been adjusted by many different chiropractors and the experience is very different. Chiropractic combines art and science like a surgeon. Every doctor’s personal skill and sensibility is unique to them. You probably wouldn’t select a doctor for an important surgery from the yellow pages. It’s not different from your chiropractor. Who you choose can make the difference between getting the best possible results or simply wasting your time and money.
4. Choosing a doctor because that's who your insurance pays for.
There’s nothing wrong with insurance that covers chiropractic, but many plans (especially HMO’s) have very limited reimbursement to the doctor (many as low as $6!). With low reimbursement these plans attract second rate doctors and doctors who must run a “patient mill” in order to see enough people to make financial sense. Your doctor is going to take care of you and he or she deserves to be paid accordingly. Don’t let your insurance decide how healthy you’re going to be. It’s the only body you’ve got.
5. Picking your doctor from the yellow pages.
It's okay for pizza, but not a doctor. Doctor’s that do a lot of advertising are often telling you that they have high patient turn over. They are mostly pain based offices that are chasing down lucrative personal injury cases where they bill the insurance for a bunch of physiotherapy procedures and non-specific spinal manipulation treatments (as opposed to specific adjustment of subluxations). A good doctor that educates his clients on caring for themselves should not require a great amount of advertising to be successful. Beware when you opt for the big advertiser.
6. Choosing because of price.
When the first question someone asks is “how much does an adjustment cost” I wonder how much they care about their own health and the quality of the doctor they're choosing. Our costs are in line with standards in the profession and we do our best to keep care affordable and accessible. Cheap care that doesn’t produce results is money wasted. If price were the only issue, everyone would be driving a Hyundai. That just isn’t the case. There are areas – especially with our health – where quality should not and must not be compromised.
7. Thinking that all chiropractors actually do Chiropractic!
Not every chiropractor has the same purpose in their practice. Some are merely there to make money. Many are using their chiropractic degree to dispense “New Age” therapies, laser treatments, traction table treatments and everything else you can imagine. It’s surprisingly unusual to find chiropractors actually practicing Chiropractic these days. It’s not wonder that many people who come to us saying they’ve tried chiropractic have actually never been properly assessed and adjusted.
Dr. Philip Greenwood, D.C.
Murrieta, California
