How do you find the right Calgary Chiropractor for you?

HOW DO YOU FIND THE RIGHT CALGARY CHIROPRACTOR FOR YOU?

At Full Potential Chiropractic, we are often asked “How do I find the right Calgary chiropractor for me & my family?”

Fortunately one of my mentors has done almost all of the work for us. Dr. Kent has been named the International Chiropractors Association (ICA) “Chiropractic Researcher of the Year” in 1991, he was the recipient of that honor from World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA) in 1994, selected 1998 “Chiropractor of the Year” by the ICA and is also the main representative for the WCA to the Department of Public Information, affiliated with the United Nations, and chair of the NGO Health Committee. Further, he is the author of over 100 articles in peer-reviewed and popular journals and he has prepared one of the best articles to choose your chiropractor that I’ve ever read. I’ve modified some of it since some of it doesn’t fit our Canadian Health Care System. Dr. Kent reports:

What NOT to do. If the best doctor for you happens to have an office nearby, that’s great. But don’t let location be the primary basis for your choice. Don’t base your selection on an attractive sign, or a large ad in the phone directory. Important factors for choosing a wellness chiropractor:

Ask your friends. If you have friends who share your perspective on health and wellness, ask for a recommendation. You can ask your friend candid questions about the doctor, the staff, fees, availability, and services offered. More importantly, your friend, who knows both you and the chiropractor, may be able to tell whether your health philosophies and personalities are compatible.
Meet the doctor. Most chiropractors will be willing to meet you for a consultation at no cost to determine whether you are a good match. Make productive use of this visit. You want to know whether the practice is right for you, and whether you feel comfortable with the doctor. Things to ask and look for:
Does the doctor look healthy? If the doctor does not live a healthy lifestyle, this speaks volumes regarding their commitment to wellness. If the doctor smells of tobacco smoke, is obese, or otherwise appears unhealthy, this is a concern.
Do the two of you “click”? You are entering into a very special relationship. Approach it as you would any long-term commitment. Do you like each other? Do you communicate well with each other? Avoid a doctor who talks down to you, or doesn’t take the time to talk to you. You want a partner and a coach, not a surrogate parent.
Does the practice focus on vertebral subluxation and wellness? We experience life through our nervous systems. Physical, biochemical, and psychological distress may result in spinal subluxations, which disrupt nerve function, and compromise your ability to adapt to the environment. It is essential that this be the focus of your wellness chiropractor, since some chiropractors choose to confine their practices to the mechanical treatment of back and neck pain.
How you will be evaluated?The focus of chiropractic is on the nervous system, which is the master control system of your body. By establishing a baseline when you begin care, the “…doctor and his systems…” chart your progress. This assists you and your chiropractor in determining how physical, biochemical, and psychological distress leads to subluxations.
Although feeling good is important to you, your care should not be based simply on whether you have pain or other symptoms. Like dental cavities, high blood pressure, and many health conditions, spinal subluxations may exist without symptoms. Objective assessments of nerve function are a must.

What types of techniques are used? If you have been to a chiropractor before, you may have a preference for a specific technique. There are many different techniques in chiropractic. Some include adjustments by hand, low-force techniques, and adjustments using instruments. The important thing is that the right technique for you is available. Ask the doctor about what technique will be used if this is important to you.

Educational and licensing standards for doctors of chiropractic are now standardized. Unfortunately, there are no specialty training programs specifically for wellness chiropractors. However, there are some seminar programs, such as the Total Solution ™ course, offered by the Chiropractic Leadership Alliance, which train full-spectrum, wellness-oriented chiropractors.
Health insurance really isn’t “health” insurance, it is illness insurance. After your examination, the chiropractor should explain to you the proposed course of care, and the fees and payment options. If you have insurance, check to see if chiropractic care is covered, and the extent of the coverage.
The value of chiropractic care in formulating a total strategy for health and well-being is immense. The key is finding a doctor of chiropractic whose philosophy, values, and personality are compatible with yours.

Thank you Dr. Kent! I’d like to add a couple things that I think are also key to the process.

First, does the office kind of feel like “family”? From the staff answering the phone, to getting to know you in the practice, you should feel like you’re “going home” to a certain degree when you enter the right chiropractic office for you. I know as my patients get into their wellness plans and I see them a lot less it’s not the $$$’s that I miss, it’s the human being. Friendships are made in our office all the time. It’s something we’re proud of and make an effort to achieve.

Second, does your chiropractor take x-rays based on a thorough history and physical exam? This is a key component of the successful results we achieve at Full Potential Chiropractic. When the doctor and the patient know what the plan is based upon solid facts achieved through x-rays, the certainty for both parties is so much higher and the requisite success rates go up as well. In many cases it’s impossible to know what’s really going on without taking a picture.

Thank you for choosing Full Potential Chiropractic us as your Chiropractic office! We put our hearts and souls into our practice because each of you is worth the effort!

If you have anyone in your life that you’ve been trying to get them to come see what all this chiropractic stuff is all about we have a really fabulous offer coming up in November. Our “Dinner with the Doc” is a great opportunity. Let us buy you and your loved ones dinner at the fabulous Regal Beagle. It’s actually really great food, and you’ll hear a quick 20 minute talk by the Docs and then have a great night out on us!

Bon Appetite!

In wellness,

Dr. Greg Dreidger D.C.