How to Choose a Chiropractor: 6 Tips From a Greenville Chiropractor

Occasionally a friend or patient asks me to recommend a chiropractor in another part of the country. If I do not know anyone in that area personally, I have to rely on certain criteria to help them find the best fit I can. I have even used these tips to find a chiropractor for myself once when I was traveling and needed help. Here are six things I look for in a chiropractic physician, in no particular order.

1. They Take Imaging Before They Treat

In most cases a chiropractor needs to see imaging of the area before treating it. This is important not only to assist in diagnosing the problem but also to rule out fractures, tumors, foreign objects, or other reasons why spinal manipulation might be contraindicated. Usually x-rays are taken by the chiropractor as part of the initial examination, but x-rays or MRI copies from other providers can also be used.

If a chiropractor makes no effort to obtain imaging before beginning treatment, I would look for a different doctor.

At Brown Chiropractic Center we take digital x-rays on site when clinically indicated as part of every new patient examination.

2. They Do Not Require Prepaid Visit Packages

Everyone is different. Although a chiropractor may be able to estimate how many visits will be needed to get you out of pain, they cannot know for certain before treatment begins. Requiring a set number of treatments paid in advance is a practice I view with significant skepticism, as does the American Chiropractic Association.

Your treatment plan should be based on what your condition actually requires, adjusted as you respond to care. At Brown Chiropractic Center there are no long-term contracts and no pressure to commit to a predetermined number of visits.

3. They Perform Real Adjustments

Often during an adjustment of a joint there will be a release of gas from within the joint, producing a popping sound. The same thing happens when you crack your knuckles. The noise is caused by a change in pressure within the joint and results in gas bubbles being released. There is usually minimal if any discomfort involved.

Not all adjustments produce a sound, but if I saw a chiropractor advertise no popping or cracking I would wonder whether they were actually performing chiropractic adjustments and keep looking.

4. They Are Not Overly Reliant on Mechanical Tools

A broad range of treatment options is a good thing, but a chiropractor who relies solely on instruments and machines to adjust may not be as well-rounded as the ideal practitioner I would be looking for. Hands-on chiropractic adjustments require skill and training that develops over years of clinical practice. That skill matters.

That said, low-force instrument adjusting has its place and is genuinely effective for the right patient and the right condition. The key is a chiropractor who can do both and knows when each is appropriate.

5. They Have a Broad Arsenal of Techniques

Occasionally I hear of chiropractors who only adjust certain vertebrae or who refuse to use therapeutic modalities for philosophical reasons. Everyone is entitled to their own practice philosophy, but this would not be the chiropractor I would choose for myself. Why unnecessarily limit the ways you can help your patient?

At Brown Chiropractic Center we use hands-on adjustments including Gonstead, Diversified, and Cox disc distraction, low-force Activator adjustments, and a full range of therapeutic modalities including cold laser therapy, therapeutic ultrasound, high voltage galvanism, and cervical and lumbar traction. The right combination depends entirely on the patient and the condition.

6. They Set Realistic Expectations

Critics of chiropractic sometimes cite examples of chiropractors who claim they can cure everything from allergies to cancer. Personally I have rarely seen this type of overreach in real life. But if you do encounter it, avoid that person.

A good chiropractor is honest about what chiropractic care can and cannot accomplish for your specific condition. They tell you what they found, what they recommend, and why, and they give you a realistic sense of what to expect before care begins.

Finding the Right Chiropractor in Greenville

Nothing beats a personal recommendation from someone you trust. But if you are in or near Greenville, South Carolina, we hope you will consider Brown Chiropractic Center as your chiropractor. Dr. Brown has been practicing in Greenville for over 40 years and brings the same standards he described above to every patient relationship.

If you are searching from somewhere else, we hope these tips help you find chiropractic care that resolves your pain and turns out to be a great experience.

Schedule a Complimentary Consultation

Dr. Jeff W. Brown, D.C.

Brown Chiropractic Center, Greenville, SC

(864) 271-0001