As with any profession, there tends to be great variety in style and demeanor of chiropractic professionals to choose from.
Similar to finding a doctor, dentist or massage therapist, it can be quite overwhelming and frustrating trying to find a chiropractor who "feels right" for you.
And after bad experience, some people even get turned off from chiropractic all together.
To avoid this scenario, compiled here are a few tips for finding the right chiropractor that best suits your needs and lifestyle.
Jot Down Your Most Concerning Ailments Sit down with yourself for a moment and write down what your main concerns for seeking treatment.
This may seem obvious, but writing it down can help to get it out of the congested space of the mind.
This immersion process may reveal that a different type of health care specialist may be able to treat your particular ailment.
Define the Qualities You Appreciate in a Chiropractor Next, think about what qualities you feel are important for your chiropractor to have.
Is it more important that they take a holistic, naturalistic approach to your treatment, or would you prefer someone with more of a straight traditional approach? Do you prefer a male or female? What are their credentials? Write these down along with any other concerns.
It is important that you feel comfortable and at ease with this person.
Get Referrals from Friends & Family The best first approach is to ask around - ask your co-workers, friends and family who they go to or who they might recommend checking out.
A bad impression or experience is generally shared twice as much as a good experience.
Word of mouth is a powerful device and nothing beats fist hand accounts.
Search the Web for Reviews Next, do a web search for chiropractors in your area.
Look for reviews in the local listing, and other local resources.
Do a bit of digging and see what others have to say about certain chiropractors in the area.
When you've got your choices narrowed down, be sure to visit the website of each prospect.
The Internet can give you a quick picture of the chiropractor's mission statement and whether or not it looks like a reputable place.
After assessing your findings on the Internet, newspaper and any word of mouth recommendations, call your top choices and schedule a consultation.
Many chiropractic offices will offer a free consultation to meet the doctor and discuss any concerns.
You should treat this meeting as an interview (you will be interviewing the doctor).
This meeting will make or break your decision, as you will get a sense very quickly if this person feels like the right fit for you.
The process to finding the right chiropractor may seem daunting, but it will make all the difference in the end when you find your match.