Not all chiropractors are created equal. To determine the difference, below are telltale signs whether you’ve had your treatments with someone who are good at what they do and those who are just in it for your money.

1. Overpromising

Treatments performed by chiropractors, including those who use different modalities, are often targeted towards muscles or spinal manipulation. However, they don’t have much to do with other diseases in other regions of the body like respiratory problems, anemia and deafness. How they came up with this list is not only unfounded but also deceiving. It’s commonly peddled to first timers who are either inquiring onsite or visiting the therapist’s site.

2. Unnecessary tests

Reliable chiropractors should demand for full spinal X-ray consultation, when you clearly only have a problem in a specific area, neither should ask for any x-ray at all for simple strains or pain in particular areas like the neck or back. X-rays are only apt when the therapist suspects a fracture, infection, or tumor. In fact, only about 10% of people undergo these therapies need an X-ray and usually not even on the first consultation.

The reason why they dupe patients into paying for more X-rays is because their mark-up for it is really high. All they have to pay for is the film and the overhead of an X-ray machine which they need to have anyway, but they charge the patient around $40 for each.

Even more unfortunate than that, there chiropractors who even use this test or other invented test, like a spinal scan, to make up some condition that isn’t even true. They will often say that the test has highlighted parts of the spine that would need correction.

3. Treatment length

If the therapist do 5-10 minute treatments or consultations, then start thinking twice because chiropractor-supervised therapies should take longer to fully evaluate whether the program he gave you works or not. This is also the time where he should be suggesting how you can build on the program or other concerns.

4. Payment packages

Be wary of payments that convince you you’re saving money if you book 25 sessions now but you’ll only be charges for 23. A good therapist will want you to get better as soon as possible, and this varies on the amount of time and effort you want to put in outside of your in-clinic treatments. He will most likely give you a range, like 5-15 treatments, instead of preempting that you will need exactly 25. If you need more sessions, he’ll most likely advise you to add 1 or 2 more, and then pay for it after the sessions.  

5. Patient involvement

Most chiropractors not taking advantage of your per session payment will always give you a rehabilitation program you follow at home. This does not necessarily have to be the same or as difficult to as what on-site therapy requires, but this will help hasten the development.

Above all these, the most important thing to remember is research. Ask your friends or family if they have recommendations because if a few people in your circle have been patients, then he must at least built that credibility.