How to Choose a Chiropractor

So you’ve decided to see a chiropractor – now how do you choose the right chiropractic clinic? It’s important to understand that as a health profession, chiropractic is a complementary and alternative medicine, meaning it differs from traditional medicine. It can be quite limited on the NHS as a complementary therapy, so you’ll often have to find your own private clinic and book an appointment without being referred.

If you’ve never been to a chiropractor before, it’s difficult to know what to look for when choosing your practice. Here are a few tips to make sure you make the right decision and find a chiropractor which is suited to your individual needs.

Are they members of a professional chiropractic organisation?

As with all professionals, chiropractors should be registered with the official board in their sector to prove they are qualified and trusted. When it comes to chiropractic, this is the General Chiropractic Council. Additionally, it looks good if the health professional is a member of an industry organisation which raises standards and promotes good practice, such as the British Chiropractic Association. If you visit the website, you can even find chiropractic clinics in your area.

Reviews and word of mouth

As with anything, sometimes the best way to find a trusted professional is by asking for recommendations. Ask family and friends if they have ever visited a chiropractor and if they would or wouldn’t recommend them. If you don’t know anybody who has experience of chiropractic treatment, go online and look up reviews for your local practice to see if it has a good reputation.

Techniques

Healthcare professionals often have different specialisms, and this is true of chiropractors. They would have trained at different places and will use various techniques for your condition. It’s important to find a chiropractor which will use techniques perfectly matched to your complaint. Ask what the chiropractor specialises in, whether it’s joint pain or sporting injuries for example.

Experience

In most cases, you’ll want to see that the chiropractor has many years of experience and has been working at the clinic for a substantial amount of time. You shouldn’t make final decisions solely on this factor, but a chiropractor with a long career is a good indication of happy patients. However, also bear in mind that younger practitioners may be just as qualified and even have more modern and scientific techniques under their belt.