David here with Move Chiropractic in Angier, North Carolina. Today, let’s dive into how to find a good chiropractor. The good news is that most chiropractors genuinely aim to help their patients feel better as quickly as possible. While various factors may influence their approach, their core intent should typically be patient-focused. However, the challenge comes in finding the right fit for you. Chiropractors can vary significantly in their techniques, treatment philosophies, and personal styles, meaning no two chiropractors are exactly alike. This makes it important to find one whose approach aligns with your specific needs and health goals.
The best way to think about finding a chiropractor is like shopping for a car. If you know exactly what you want, the process becomes much easier—you can quickly filter out what doesn’t suit your needs. But if you’re unsure of what you're looking for, it might take a bit of trial and error to get the right make/model/color of what you're looking for. In this post, I’ll share a few tips to help guide you in the right direction, making the search a little less overwhelming and ensuring you find a chiropractor that’s the right fit for you.
If you come across a chiropractor who immediately tries to lock you into a pre-paid treatment package costing thousands of dollars, that's a red flag. Trust your instincts if the interaction feels like a “pushy sales” situation. A good chiropractor will focus on your health, not their sales pitch.
Another thing to be cautious of is what I call “scare tactic marketing.” Some chiropractors may take full spinal X-rays on your first visit and then present you with a long list of issues, claiming you’ll need 50 or more visits to correct them. This approach is a major red flag. It’s impossible to predict how many visits a condition will require based on X-rays alone, and most of the things seen in imaging can’t be fixed by chiropractic care anyway. I personally recommend smaller treatment plans of 4-8 visits. While this may not always resolve the issue entirely, it allows for a reasonable trial of care to see if the treatment is effective—without requiring you to pay thousands upfront.
Research consistently shows that a combination of manual therapy, corrective exercises, and spinal manipulation provides the most effective treatment for nearly all injuries within the chiropractic scope. So, if your chiropractor is only adjusting your spine and sending you out the door in two minutes, you’re probably not getting the comprehensive care you deserve.
Finding the right chiropractor is often a process of trial and error. If you’re searching for a new chiropractor, I recommend looking for one who offers more than just spinal adjustments. It can be helpful to give them a call before scheduling an appointment to discuss your specific issue and see if they are confident in treating it. Also, take a look at their website to get a sense of the services they offer.
If you’ve been seeing a chiropractor for a few weeks and aren’t noticing any improvement, and the treatment is staying exactly the same, it might be time to consider switching providers. Not all chiropractors are skilled at treating every condition, and the best ones will be honest about their limitations. They should also be willing to refer you to someone better suited for your particular case if it’s outside their expertise.
If you're in the Angier area and need help, I'm only a call/text away. 984-355-3587
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