6 Tips on Choosing a Chiropractor for Sports Injuries
Sports injuries aren’t easy to deal with. Unfortunately they’re very common, in 2016-17 alone over 17,000 Canadians were hospitalized due to sports injuries.
Thankfully, if you’re suffering from a sports injury there are many sports injury treatments available. Chiropractic — the practice of manipulating the spine to restore the body’s balance and function — is one of the most popular options to relieve pain.
But choosing a chiropractor isn’t easy in this day and age. With all of the options for chiropractors out there, how do you choose the best one?
This article will walk you through some best practices for choosing the best chiropractors.
1. Credentials
The first thing you want to do when choosing a chiropractor is to check the credentials.
To become a chiropractor in Canada, you have to undergo at least seven years of postgraduate training. After that, chiropractors have to pass exams and obtain licenses.
You should also make sure you find a chiropractor who specializes in high-impact injuries. While all pain can feel terrible, there’s a marked difference between pain that comes from ageing, pain that comes from disease, and pain that comes from an injury.
Remember that chiropractic isn’t all about the back. While chiropractors uniformly believe that many problems can be relieved by adjusting the spine, different chiropractors specialize in other parts of the body. Make sure you find a chiropractor who can treat your injury.
Chiropractic care experience is just as important as schooling. An experienced chiropractor possesses the capability to compare your injury to ones they’ve dealt with in the past. From there they can better figure out how to treat you.
2. Referrals
Referrals are a great way to tell that your chiropractor is legitimate. Many medical doctors understand the benefits that it can have (many are patients themselves.)
The best chiropractors out there have friendly relationships with doctors. You can tell a chiropractor is good when your family doctor is jumping to recommend you to them.
You can also get a referral from a family member or a friend. Once again, sports injuries are different from other types of pain, so it’s best to take these recommendations from friends who have gone through similar types of injuries.
3. Customer Reviews
You don’t need to rely on a friend for referrals. Did you know that 84 per cent of people trust online reviews? There’s no wonder why — the internet has democratized knowledge, and it’s easier than ever for people to spread their experiences.
On top of that, reading online reviews makes it easy to find out exactly what people like or dislike about an individual chiropractor. If you find that your needs fall in line with a chiropractors values, customer reviews make it easier than ever to follow through.
Listening to customer reviews means you’re far more likely to find yourself a great chiropractor in Alberta.
4. Insurance
Double-check your insurance to make sure that they cover chiropractic treatment.
Some insurance provides complete coverage for injuries and will pay your chiropractor bills. Other insurance companies might offer you a co-pay situation, where you and them cover the cost together. Other insurance companies still might not provide you with any help.
Remember to contact your insurance provider before you book an appointment.
5. Communication
It’s imperative that your chiropractor communicates with you while they’re treating you. They should be able to elucidate what they believe the root of your problems are, and should also answer questions on exactly what they’re doing at any given moment.
A good chiropractor will take an interest in your particular problem. You’re dealing with an injury after all — pain is extremely subjective and can’t be measured impersonally. A chiropractor should take a scientific approach to their treatment of you, testing things out and seeing how they work.
Your chiropractor should also have the ability to swallow their pride and refer you to another specialist if they believe that it can help you recover. A good chiropractor will recognize that they don’t have the solution to everything.
6. Convenience
At the end of the day it’s not easy to be injured. It’s a huge plus if you can get hold of a chiropractor who is convenient to visit. Your injury will likely leave you tired and hurting much of the time, and you don’t want to exacerbate that by travelling more than you need to.
It’s also a plus to find a chiropractor who is accepting new patients immediately. While you might really want to see a certain someone, consider whether or not it’s worth it to wait.
Make Choosing A Chiropractor Easy
While there are many options out there, choosing a chiropractor doesn’t have to be hard. Take into account the practitioners credentials, the referrals of friends and doctors, what other customers say online, what your insurance will cover, how the practitioner communicates, and the convenience of the experience, and you’re far more likely to heal quickly.
For more information contact us today.