Several people who’ve had chiropractic treatments benefit from the rehabilitative capabilities of this form of alternative medicine. But due to its increased popularity, there are several fake chiropractors springing out of nowhere in an effort to cash in on this particular field of medicine by practicing without license. For patients, it is important to know the proper guidelines of choosing a chiropractor to avoid any complications that could result from opting for one that lacks proper training and expertise to handle the job.
Recommended Qualities
If you are having any sort of spinal, neck, back problems, or any condition that your doctor decides to refer you for chiropractic care, make sure to gather feedback or information on which particular chiropractor to opt for. If they can recommend anyone, then you can be assured that you are working with a licensed and trained chiropractor.
If your doctor does not know any chiropractor, there are ways to ensure that you can find a licensed chiropractor. When you encounter one, make sure to look for a membership to the National Association for Chiropractic Medicine or the Canadian Academy of Manipulative Therapists (CAMT). Since these are basically a small group of chiropractors, you can be assured that anyone who is a member are qualified to practice this form of alternative medicine.
Negative Signs
On top of knowing what qualities to look for a certified chiropractor to safeguard your health, here are a few danger signs that you should warn you to avoid a chiropractor if s/he exhibits them:
- Avoid chiropractors who require you to sign a long-term treatment contract. Although chiropractic care is relatively safe, you have no reason to be tied up to a particular chiropractor for any long-term treatment unless your condition requires it.
- Avoid chiropractors who ask you to engage in regular “preventive” manipulations or adjustments. There is no such thing as regular preventive chiropractic and even those patients subjected to long-term treatment do so with certain intervals.
- Avoid chiropractors who discourage you to opt for other preventive treatments outside of chiropractic care, such as flouridation and immunization. A qualified doctor who is concerned about your health and recuperation must be open to the best possible means of treating your disease or condition.
- Avoid chiropractors who prescribe supplemental drugs, herbal or homeopathic products for you to combine with treatments. Only physicians and dietitians can do that for you.
Other Red Flags
Above are some specific tell-tale signs of a chiropractor who is less concerned about the patient’s welfare and is only aiming to attain monetary benefits. You need to pay close attention to the following signs of a chiropractor who is more interested in relieving you off your money than of the pain you are suffering from.
They are the ones that ruin the reputation of legitimate and skilled chiropractors in the industry.
Sign #1: Chiropractors who make false claims that even you believe are not feasible at all.
Sign #2: Chiropractors who claim to have a “secret” technique that no other practicing chiropractors can perform for you.
Sign #3: Chiropractors who employ scare tactics to convince the patient to agree on a treatment plan.
Additional Tips For Your Safety
To prevent the possibility of suffering from malpractices of incompetent chiropractors, it is best to consult with a general medical practitioner when you begin to experience any problems in your health. They should be the one making a diagnosis of your condition. If possible, never go into a chiropractor without having yourself diagnosed by other medical practitioners.
For added safety, have your chosen chiropractor to work together with your medical doctor (especially if the latter has recommended chiropractic care for your condition). This will enable both health and medical practitioners to assess any progress of your condition.
