As our area continues to grow, there is no shortage of chiropractors in the Reno/Sparks region. Finding the best chiropractor for your needs can be challenging with all the different options. Your decision should take more consideration than using your maps app to determine who is the closest to your home.

As with most things, a little hard work and research can go a long way. Here are some tips for choosing the chiropractor who can best fit your needs.

5 Tips for Finding the Right Chiropractor for You

1. Referrals

Tried and true, a referral from a trusted friend, family member, or co-worker is still the best option. This person has already utilized services and can offer a less biased opinion. Keep in mind that every individual has their own issues and complaints, so what might have been the best treatment option for your friend might not apply to you. In this same regard, online consumer reviews can be helpful. Yet again, these reviews should be taken with a grain of salt. One random interaction that a patient received in the office might not be the norm, good or bad. A patient who has multiple encounters with the doctor is a better judge.

2. Are they properly licensed?

This should seem self-evident, but for a doctor of chiropractor to treat in the State of Nevada they must have an active license accredited through the state. A quick check to http://chirobd.nv.gov/ is where a potential patient can verify a license.

3. What’s their educational background?

Becoming a chiropractic practitioner is as difficult endeavor requiring a doctorate level of education. Each chiropractic college teaches a standard curriculum, with variation of emphasis on each school. After chiropractic school, doctors are required to perform continuing education to stay current with new trends. Some may elect to go further and receive a diplomat specialty in fields such as nutrition, pediatrics, and orthopedics to name a few. This is typically a good sign that the doctor is active in their field, expanding their skill and knowledge base.

4. What is the patient’s treatment style/plan?

Chiropractic is unique in how varied each providers treatment style can be. The amount of time a provider spends to diagnose each patient can be significantly different, along with which modalities are utilized. Hopefully, the provider you choose to see has multiple methods to treat a patient. If every patient was given the same treatment plan and treated with the same modalities and adjustments, how individual can the treatment be? Ask your doctor the typical protocol they use, adjustment style, if x-rays are offered in office, and if rehab exercises are routinely given.

Also, and just as important, you should know what the treatment plan is before beginning care. The doctor should have a clear outlined plan to treat prior to starting a conservative care plan. Be wary if you go to an office every week, get the same treatment, and have no end of care in sight. Also question if no at-home recommendations have been given. Periodic re-evaluations should be part of a good treatment plan. If a well understood treatment objective is not gathered or stated, how can the patient/provider know when goals are met and treatment is ended? This piece of communication is often not clearly understood, and can lead to frustration.

5. Do they offer free consultations?

While not a requirement, it’s considered good practice to offer free short consultations with would-be patients, particularly those who’ve never had chiropractic care before. This helps distinguish the better chiropractors, as well as gives you a chance to personally meet the doctor and draw your own conclusions.