Choosing a Chiropractor
by Angeline Grenz
Choosing a chiropractor can be a challenging proposition. Some chiropractors believe strictly in manipulating the spine; others take a holistic view of treating the entire body. A chiropractor can treat an immediately painful problem or can take a long-term approach to changing the body’s structure. In light of the varied types of chiropractors today, how can you be sure the chiropractor you call will have similar treatment goals?
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Finding a good chiropractor involves delving first into your own philosophies and needs. Do you want a quick adjustment? Are you looking for someone to invest a great quantity of time into your overall health and well-being? These decisions can influence which chiropractor might be best suited to you.
At the same time, there are some cautionary considerations. Julie Scott, D.C., of Scott Chiropractic and Healthcare Systems also sits on the Colorado State Board of Chiropractic Examiners and consults for the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Dr. Scott says the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners is taking a strong look at some practices among chiropractors.
Dr. Scott cautions against chiropractors that request patients sign lengthy contracts with up-front payments, often several thousand dollars. “There exists over-abuse and scare tactics among some chiropractors,” she says. Additionally, Dr. Scott says that some claims made by chiropractors have yet to be conclusively tested. “The state laws, rules, and guidelines definitely follow the facts. If chiropractors want to use something new, they need to do all the tests.”
Dr. Scott’s own philosophy is “medically modeled,” and she works closely with medical doctors, surgeons, and others from the healthcare arena. She warns consumers to watch for chiropractors that require their patients to spend “hundreds and hundreds of dollars on supplements.” She adds that these and other marketing techniques “are not pro-patient.”
In general, says Dr. Scott, most chiropractic conditions will start to improve in four to six treatments. From there, frequency should be decreased as the patient improves. Some more complex conditions may require further care and rehab that may take up to 12 weeks.
Regardless, she adds, when choosing a chiropractor, find one who is upfront about their treatment techniques and plans. The State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, says Scott, is taking a long, hard look at chiropractors that go beyond the parameters of their profession. If you are unfamiliar with chiropractors in your area, she recommends looking at the approved chiropractors on the lists of insurance providers for a good idea of quality practitioners.
“Chiropractic medicine is about fixing biomechanical problems. However, there is no such thing as a perfect spine. Our body is a big machine. Chiropractors are shooting for optimal alignment and joint mobility, then muscle strength and balance.” Local chiropractors offer a variety of philosophies and treatment profiles. However, there are commonalities they all recommend when it comes to choosing a chiropractor.
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4038 Timberline Rd.
Fort Collins 80525
(970) 267-9600
www.advantagechirowc.com
“When caring for patients, my philosophy is to use what is called a ‘treatment plan.’ This allows the patient to track his or her progress using a plan that consists of several adjustments, stretches, and exercises that will help rehabilitate the area of complaint,” says Casey Kincaid, D.C., CCEP, with Advantage Chiropractic of Fort Collins. This model helps the patient understand the process is a joint effort: Dr. Kincaid adjusts the patient and gives them the tools to become healthy, but they must also follow through with the plan.
At a successful completion, patients are then transitioned into a maintenance plan with periodic checks to ensure the patient is pain free. Advantage Chiropractic also offers low impact adjustments, extremity adjustments (with a Certified Chiropractic Extremity Practitioner), family care, sports physicals, treatment of sports injuries, in-house massage therapy, and spinal muscle rehabilitation exercise/re-education. Advantage Chiropractic has been serving Fort Collins since 2005.
When choosing a chiropractor, Dr. Kincaid recommends paying attention to the practice’s adjusting techniques. “A friendly staff and comfortable procedures are important as well,” he adds. Patients should also experience pain relief within two weeks of the initial visit. “At that point, if the pain has not subsided, the chiropractor should change their treatment technique or refer the patient to his or her primary care physician or a specialist.” However, changing the overall structure of a patient can take three months or longer.
Dr. Kincaid says, “A good chiropractor should do a high quality initial exam.” He continues, “From this exam, the chiropractor should be able to tell the patient if a chiropractic adjustment would be beneficial. Adjustments do not help every condition. I would be cautious about going to any medical or chiropractic doctor who does not perform a high quality physical exam before they start treatment,” he encourages.
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1136 E. Stuart St., Suite 4207
Fort Collins 80525
(970) 377-0055
Dr. Jeff Groene, of Groene Chiropractic in Fort Collins, says his practice recently reexamined their philosophy to better serve their patients. “We come from the standpoint that your health in this world is the most important thing you have. When good health is absent, you can’t work, you can’t enjoy your family, and, at times, you can’t even think.”
Working with this premise, Dr. Groene says the first thing you need is to get your health back. “We care for the human frame from a gross anatomy level as well as on a cellular level with chiropractic care, nutrition, and diet.” Dr. Groene takes care of the chiropractic care of his patients; his wife, Mary, addresses diet and nutrition for patients looking for a whole-health approach. The nutrition supplements offered at his practice are food-based products designed to address nutritional deficiencies.
From a structural approach, Dr. Groene says, “I believe the sacrum and pelvis are the foundation for your entire body; these are where I put my focus.”
Dr. Groene’s first recommendation for choosing a chiropractic doctor is to “find someone you trust and who is honest. This profession has gotten a bad rap. It seems we have a higher than normal ‘shyster factor.’” This is because there are chiropractors that “try to make chiropractic look better than medicine. Chiropractic and medicine have fundamentally different goals. They are truly complementary in that one accomplishes what the other can’t.”“If you find someone who is honest, who won’t string you along, and who has integrity, then you will probably get excellent care no matter what type of techniques they use,” he adds.
In his practice, Dr. Groene prefers not to share office space with other types of caregivers, such as massage therapists and acupuncturists. “I am not taking away from these types of care,” he says, “but when trying to get people to understand the importance of what I am doing, they can be a distraction.”
In general, Dr. Groene says patients in pain should experience improvement in their condition within six visits with a chiropractor. “By then, they should be feeling a whole lot better.” Structural correction, however, “takes longer. It all depends on what your goal is.”
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2601 S. Lemay Ave.
Fort Collins 80525
(970) 223-5914
“Moving is life; if you can move well you can live well,” says Dr. Ed Osgood, with Lighthouse Chiropractic in Fort Collins. “Chiropractic works because we are a self-regulating, self-healing body controlled by the central nervous system. When we impair this system with stress or trauma, the body’s ability to self-regulate and heal is hindered.” That is where your chiropractor comes in, returning proper motion and alignment to the body.
At Lighthouse Chiropractic, it is all about families. From pregnancy to seniors, they have techniques designed to meet the needs of all patients by tailoring care to a patient’s age, condition, and overall health. But they have made their specialty treating pregnant mothers and newborns.
“Many patients wonder why a new infant needs care. Consider the birth process itself: it is a very traumatic event causing common misalignments in the hips and pelvis,” says Dr. Osgood. “Studies suggest that excessive crying, colic, poor appetite, or erratic sleep habits may be a sign of early spinal distress. Adjustments for infants and children are extra gentle, using no more force than it takes to test a ripe tomato.”
If a patient is not responding well to care, Dr. Osgood takes the time to do a full nutritional evaluation. He also has a degree from Colorado State University in human nutrition. “We work hard with mothers, children, and infants to ensure the building blocks are in place to live a long, healthy life.”
When selecting a chiropractor, Dr. Osgood quotes a mentor of his: “Every therapy works for someone, but no therapy works for everyone.” He continues, “It is important to match your needs and personality with that of the doctor and staff. Talk with someone you can trust for a referral. As you begin care, if you don’t feel comfortable with a method or technique, ask questions. Make sure you are getting the best for your specific needs.”
Chiropractors must have a license from the State Board to practice in Colorado. They are charged with treating neuro-musculo-skeletal conditions, says Osgood. Essentially, they address problems with nerves, muscles, and bones. “If a patient comes with a problem outside the scope of our practice, we will gladly refer them to the appropriate medical doctor.” Other quality chiropractors should do likewise in their practices.