Chiropractic is a profession with a wide variety of practice philosophies and techniques, which makes it a challenge to select the best chiropractor. Because the chiropractic treatment is a physical procedure, consideration should be given to both the rapport with the doctor as well as compatibility with joint manipulation style.

This article outlines questions to ask when interviewing a chiropractor and provides guidelines for what to expect of chiropractic care. It also highlights some red flags that may indicate questionable treatment approaches.

• See What to Expect at the First Chiropractic Consultation

Recommendations for a Good Chiropractor

A good place to start is to ask a primary care physician, physical therapist, or spine specialist for recommendations of chiropractors who they view as competent and trustworthy. One way to phrase this question is: “If someone in your family needed a chiropractor, who would you recommend?”

It also helps to ask friends, co-workers and neighbors for recommendations. Exercise caution, however, because one person’s definition of the best chiropractor may be quite different from another person’s definition. While recommendations can be valuable, it is important to find a chiropractor who can meet an individual’s specific needs.

• See How to Choose a Chiropractic Clinic

In general, if multiple people recommend the same chiropractor, chances are good that the chiropractor is reliable.

Interviewing a Chiropractor

Before starting treatment, it is usually best to conduct a telephone interview or request an in-office consultation to learn more about the chiropractor, the clinic, and techniques used. Often the treating chiropractor will request a personal consultation to discuss these details.

For most people, it is important to feel comfortable with the chiropractor and the clinic to have an overall positive treatment experience. Feeling comfortable may depend on a lot of personal preferences, including details such as how long a patient may typically have to wait in the waiting room or location of the chiropractor’s office.

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