You’ve done your research, and you’re ready for a chiropractor who can help you feel better. But there’s still one more step: the in-person consult. I’ve had plenty of patients come to me who have been to other doctors first, and they were often disappointed with the consulting process. The good news is that all that disappointment can be avoided by asking some key questions before you even get into an office chair.
You should research your chiropractor, but here some questions to ask in-person.
Asking questions is a great way to get to know your new chiropractor. You should research their qualifications and experience before going in, but here are some questions to ask in-person:
- What are your qualifications? How long have you been a chiropractor, and where did you train?
- What kind of approach do you take toward treatment? Do you use “alternative” treatments like acupuncture or massage therapy as well as traditional manipulation techniques?
- What’s your philosophy about health care in general? Do all methods have equal value for improving health or do some work better than others (like drugs vs. vitamins)? How does this align with what I’m looking for from my own healthcare provider/chiropractic clinic/doctorate program at school/etc.? How would our philosophies complement each other’s or clash if we were working together on a project like writing this post!
Researching ahead of time will help give context to the answers they give during these conversations so that when they say something like “I think this type needs more research” (which happens surprisingly often), it won’t sound very different from any other advice about eating well or exercising regularly—because it isn’t! That said…
What will I get out of treatment?
You’re probably wondering what you can expect from chiropractic care. Well, there are a number of benefits from getting chiropractic care—and it’s important to understand these before you start treatment. For example, chiropractic treatments can help with:
- Pain relief and muscle tension relief
- Improved balance and coordination
- Improved spinal function, which may reduce the risk of injury
- Less pain in the back, neck or lower extremities
Why do this treatment now?
Asking your chiropractor why they want to treat you is a great way to get a clearer picture of their approach to patient care. You should also ask what they hope the treatment will achieve, and how they plan on achieving it.
Asking these questions will help you understand:
- What is the problem you are trying to solve?
- What is the goal of the treatment?
- What is the best way to achieve that goal?
It’s important here that you ask questions specific enough that you can actually understand what your doctor means by them—if they don’t answer them well, ask again until they do. For example: “What are some ways we could help relieve my pain?” or “How long would I need to come back after each session?”
Is there any reason you can’t treat my specific condition?
Many people are surprised to learn that chiropractors are trained to treat a wide range of health issues. Chiropractic care is not limited to back pain and sciatica, but also includes the treatment of other conditions, such as neck pain, headaches, migraines and more.
Chiropractors often have advanced training in many techniques that can help with specific conditions. For example:
- Active release technique (ART) is a technique used by chiropractors and physical therapists alike to treat soft tissue injuries such as muscle strains or tendinopathies (tendonitis). It’s particularly effective for treating trigger points that cause many types of muscle pain; it’s also useful for reducing scar tissue buildup after an injury has healed.
- The Graston Technique® uses a series of small hand instruments to apply pressure and strokes over an area where there’s been trauma or injury—such as an acute sprain or tear—to break up scar tissue build-up. This type of therapy can be used on the spine itself but is most commonly applied elsewhere in the body where there has been trauma or injury.*
Conclusion
This should give you some good questions to ask your chiropractor. If you have any more, or want to share your experience with asking questions during an appointment, feel free to leave a comment below!