Choosing a chiropractor shouldn't simply come down to who can provide an adjustment.
Good chiropractic care starts with understanding why you're seeking treatment, what you're having difficulty doing, and whether chiropractic care is appropriate for your problem.
Whether you're dealing with back pain, neck pain, headaches, an injury, or another musculoskeletal complaint, you should understand what is being treated and why.
Here are several things you should expect.
1. Your Chiropractor Should Listen First
Your first visit should begin with a conversation—not an adjustment.
Your chiropractor should understand:
- Where you're experiencing symptoms
- When the problem started
- What makes it better or worse
- Previous injuries
- Previous treatment
- Your work demands
- Exercise and activity
- Your goals for treatment
Someone trying to return to competitive sports may have very different goals than someone who simply wants to comfortably sit through the workday.
Those differences should influence your care.
2. You Should Receive an Appropriate Examination
Not every painful area needs to be adjusted.
Before recommending treatment, your chiropractor should perform an examination appropriate for your complaint.
Depending on your symptoms, this may include evaluating:
- Range of motion
- Strength
- Neurological function
- Orthopedic findings
- Movement
- The painful area
- Related areas that may contribute to your symptoms
For example, shoulder pain can sometimes originate from the neck.
Leg pain may sometimes involve irritation of a lumbar nerve.
The examination helps determine what's most likely contributing to your symptoms.
3. You Don't Automatically Need X-Rays
X-rays can provide useful information, but they aren't necessary for every chiropractic patient.
Imaging may be appropriate when your history or examination suggests that it could meaningfully affect diagnosis or treatment.
That could include certain injuries, suspected fractures, significant degenerative changes, structural abnormalities, or other clinical concerns.
If we recommend X-rays, you should understand why we're taking them and how the results could affect your care.
4. You Should Understand Your Diagnosis
You shouldn't leave your appointment more confused about your body than when you arrived.
Your chiropractor should explain what they believe is contributing to your symptoms in understandable language.
That includes discussing uncertainty when it exists.
Terms such as arthritis, degeneration, disc bulge, or bone spur can sound alarming.
But structural findings don't automatically mean your body is damaged beyond repair.
Understanding what's happening can help you make better decisions about treatment and activity.
5. Your Treatment Plan Should Have a Reason
There isn't one correct number of chiropractic visits for everyone.
Someone with a recent uncomplicated episode of back pain may need something very different from someone with persistent pain, neurological symptoms, or a significant injury.
Treatment frequency should depend on factors such as:
- Diagnosis
- Severity
- Duration
- Functional limitations
- Response to treatment
- Treatment goals
Most importantly, the plan should change as you improve.
If you're progressing well, care should generally progress too.
6. Chiropractic Care Doesn't Have to Mean Adjustments Only
Adjustments can be useful for some musculoskeletal conditions, but they're only one tool.
Depending on the problem, care may also involve:
- Rehabilitation and movement
- Strengthening
- Mobility exercises
- Activity modification
- Massage therapy
- Spinal decompression
- Education
- Referral for additional evaluation
If you've lost strength or physical capacity, repeatedly adjusting the same area may not address everything that's limiting you.
7. You Should Be Involved in Your Care
Healthcare decisions shouldn't happen to you.
You should understand your options.
That includes being able to ask:
What do you think is causing this?
What are my treatment options?
Why are you recommending this treatment?
How long should it take before we expect improvement?
What can I do on my own?
What happens if I'm not improving?
A good treatment plan should make sense to you.
8. Progress Should Be Measured
Pain matters, but it isn't the only measure of improvement.
Depending on your goals, progress might mean:
- Sleeping more comfortably
- Sitting longer
- Walking farther
- Regaining range of motion
- Increasing strength
- Returning to exercise
- Working without significant symptoms
- Playing golf again
- Picking up your kids
- Returning to a sport
Treatment should ultimately help you do more of what matters to you.
9. Your Chiropractor Should Know When to Refer
Chiropractic care isn't appropriate for every condition.
Sometimes examination findings indicate that another healthcare provider or additional testing is needed.
That might mean referral for:
- MRI
- Orthopedic evaluation
- Neurological evaluation
- Medical management
- Injections
- Surgical consultation
- Another type of healthcare
Knowing when not to provide chiropractic treatment is also part of good chiropractic care.
Chiropractic Care in Maple Grove, MN
At Northwood Chiropractic & Wellness, our goal is to understand your problem before deciding how to treat it.
Depending on your condition, your care may include chiropractic care, rehabilitation and movement, massage therapy, spinal decompression, or referral when another approach is more appropriate.
You should understand what we're doing, why we're doing it, and what we're trying to accomplish.
Ultimately, the goal is to help you move better and get back to the activities that matter to you.
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Your first visit includes a consultation, comprehensive exam, X-rays if needed, and your first chiropractic adjustment when clinically appropriate.
Dr. Greg Beenken
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