Five Things To Look For When Seeking A Chiropractor

When searching for a chiropractor, just picking one out of the yellow pages is not a good idea. Chiropractors in this modern era should have an office with the following attributes to be considered optimal. With the following office traits, patients will have the best chance of receiving an excellent outcome.

1) Multi-discipline - Chiropractic training is extremely diverse. Some chiropractors are trained in traditional medical models, whereas others receive training that is more holistic. When seeking treatment from a chiropractor in this modern era, it should not be acceptable to be under the care of one who simply performs nothing more than manipulations. Because we know that multi-faceted treatments work well in the majority of patients. This includes treating patients with physical rehabilitation along with active and passive modalities such as spinal decompression, interferential treatment, ice, and heat.

2) Spinal Decompression Certification - Since 1996, Spinal Decompression Treatment has been cleared by the FDA. Studies have shown that it works extremely well for back and neck pain patients with diagnoses including disc herniations, degenerative disc disease, spinal arthritis, whiplash, spinal stenosis, and more. The intermittent traction involved creates a negative pressure inside the disc space which allows increased blood flow and oxygen to help repair damage. Numerous studies have shown over a 75% good to excellent results with a series of spinal decompression treatments.

3) Manipulation Under Anesthesia - This treatment, called "MUA", has been under utilized in the chiropractic community for the past couple of decades. Due to its success record it has been gaining momentum and can help patients dramatically with frozen shoulder, pelvic pain, neck stiffness, and more.

4) Affiliated with pain management - Creating a true multi-discipline center including both traditional and alternative treatment methods maximizes patient outcome success. This includes chiropractic treatment, physical therapy, massage/acupuncture, medication management, and interventional pain management by traditionally trained doctors. Patients come in with unique circumstances, and their treatments don't always fit a mold. Having all the various options can help dramatically and be combined as necessary.

5) Trained in both Active and Passive Spinal Manipulations - In the world of chiropractic, spinal manipulations may dramatically assist patients in becoming more active while reducing pain dramatically. Typical patients receive an active manipulation from a chiropractor and there are many different techniques for doing them such as the Diversified technique. However, sometimes patients are not able to receive an active manipulation. Reasons for this may include pregnancy, fibromyalgia or a condition such as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy where being actively manipulated is simply not tolerated. In these cases, a passive manipulation technique such as an Activator may help patients while at the same time being tolerated fine.