First Time Going to a Chiropractor? FAQs to Ask

A first chiropractic visit is an overwhelming decision for many people, and it’s normal to be apprehensive. Fortunately, a little preparation ahead of time can help you know what to expect and what questions you should ask the office at your initial appointment.

We want all patients to be completely comfortable before beginning treatment, so we’ve put together a guide covering frequently asked questions you should ask at your first office visit.

What Conditions Does the Practice Treat?

Not all chiropractic practices are the same, and many specialize in treating certain conditions. For example, some chiropractors specialize in treating personal injury victims.

Chiropractic offices also offer different treatment strategies, which may be more effective at treating some conditions than others. It’s important that your chiropractor understands the condition you’re seeking treatment for, and that they use a treatment approach that’s effective for your specific issue.

When you’re shopping for a chiropractor or making your first appointment, ask what kind of conditions the office treats. If you don’t know what your condition is but are in pain, be specific about the type of pain you’re experiencing, and when and how you experience the pain. This will help the office hone on in what might be going on.

How Experienced Is the Chiropractor?

Experience is paramount in any profession, and chiropractors are no exception. A more experienced chiropractor will better understand how to treat you simply because they will have had the opportunity to work with more patients.

In other words, they’ve been there and done it before, and they know what works in a variety of situations.

Always ask how many years the chiropractor(s) in the practice have been practicing, and for details regarding their credentials.

What Is the Chiropractor’s Philosophy?

Different chiropractors have different philosophies and approaches to treatment. If your chiropractor can’t tell you about his or her philosophy, that should be a red flag.

At USA Health & Therapy, we take a holistic approach to healing, making sure we look at the big picture of each patient’s life and discuss their goals. This enables us to come up with the best treatment plan to alleviate pain and other issues, and to increase quality of life.

That being said, we believe in finding ways to treat medical problems the natural way, and will only recommend medication or surgery if we believe there is no other way, and all other options have been exhausted.

Honesty

Honesty is important for any patient-doctor relationship, including chiropractic care. You should feel confident in your chiropractor, and feel that your provider is being transparent with you at all times.

One way to determine whether you can be confident in your chiropractor is to ask questions. A good chiropractor won’t just tell you what you want to hear regarding the treatment and prognosis of your condition. He or she will tell you what you need to hear.

For example, chiropractic care should not be used to treat all health conditions. A good chiropractor will tell you when their approach to treatment or chiropractic care in general won’t help with your condition, and will refer you to another specialist who is more suited to your needs.

Your chiropractor should be realistic about your condition and prognosis at the outset, and also about what you can expect from treatment.

Have More Questions?

Chiropractic is a safe, natural form of treatment for all ages. To learn more about chiropractic care or ask questions about what to expect, contact us for a consultation.

We will be happy to answer your questions to make sure you’re 100% comfortable before moving forward with treatment.

About the Author:

Dr. Singer has been a practicing chiropractor for more than 20 years, and USA Health & Therapy has been around since 2004. Over the course of his career, Singer has helped tens of thousands of people with all kinds of issues by using a wide variety of treatment strategies. He has extensive knowledge of chiropractic modalities, including Gonstead, Diversified, Thompson Drop Table, and Activator, and in 1997 he earned a special adjunctive Chiropractic Certification in Spinal Trauma (CCST) to better provide care for car crash victims. Dr. Singer is licensed to practice chiropractic medicine in both Florida and New York.