A good clinician will help you get to where you want to be. But if you’re in pain, the choice of therapists available can be overwhelming. So we’re giving you some pointers on how to choose the right care. We’ll also tell you how to spot when you’re being encouraged to sign up for more care than you need.

The truth is most therapists will help most people get better most of the time. So it doesn’t have to be a case of finding the ideal one, just one you can work with. You may need to do some “shopping around” before you find a therapist that suits you. There are a wealth of options – chiropractors, physiotherapists, osteopaths, massage therapists, sports therapists, etc. all with different techniques and specialties.

To help make your decision seek out online reviews, check their website or even phone or email to discuss exactly what kind of care they offer, and whether it sounds like something you would like. Do you seem to have a good rapport with them? Do they seem trustworthy and credible? Are you confident that they can help you? These aren’t trivial considerations; these have a real impact on your recovery.

What to expect

A competent chiropractor will perform a thorough history and physical exam. They should give you an explanation of your condition and some indication of how quickly they expect you to recover. Most of all, you should feel in control and that the chiropractor is practising patient-centred care. These are not nice-to-haves, they are must-haves and they are the minimum you should expect. You may also receive information on the alternative options for care, with some information on the pros and cons of each.

Changing therapists

You may want to change your approach after a few treatments. This is not uncommon and is not necessarily a sign of failure. Even if they are proficient therapists you may find you don’t really have a rapport with them, or that their approach isn’t what you expected. That’s OK - everyone is different and has different preferences. They should be happy to discuss this with you. You won’t be the first patient to change therapists, it’s part of the job. In many cases they will be anticipating the conversation and may know of other therapists locally that practice in a way more suited to your needs.

Red Flags

Clinics that practice unethically are thankfully in the minority, however there are things you should avoid. If you spot any of the following, proceed with caution, or not at all. These may sound obvious but being in pain is stressful. When we are in pain we can be easily scared into making decisions that we otherwise wouldn’t.

They want you to pay in advance for a package of care

We’ve heard of clinicians advising treatment plans of 36 visits or more – we certainly couldn’t justify that based on any condition. A good rule of thumb is that recommendations of any more than 12 visits for a new problem is too much. Even then, your file should be reviewed regularly as everyone will recover at different rates and in different ways. Bulk buying isn’t necessarily a bad thing: if you go regularly and enjoy the benefits there’s no reason not to. But if you’re new to the practice and they’re advising you to buy a large and expensive package of care up front, get a second opinion. This counts double if it seems like an off-the-shelf package and not individualised to you.

They use scare tactics

Warning people that not starting care will have dire consequences is a big red flag. Seek another opinion if a therapist claims that your condition will worsen significantly without care (e.g. ending up in a wheelchair or needing a joint replacement). Particularly if they tell you that it’s a problem that only they can correct.

They don’t review your progress

As mentioned above, your therapist should be reviewing your case on a regular basis. If you’re seeing them for a new problem and it’s not improved after two weeks, there should be further discussion. It may turn out that there is a good reason for not improving, or your care programme may be changed. But if no discussion takes place that’s not a good sign.

The clinic uses X-rays a lot

X-rays are not as frequently required as you might think, and you certainly won’t need “before” and “after” X-rays for chiropractic care. People often see this as a sign of a clinic being thorough but we don’t need them just to “get a look at your bones”. X-rays should only be used when there is a particular issue that your chiropractor is looking to rule out. X-rays will often come with an extra cost or with the cost of them rolled into one of those big packages of care described above. Once again, if you are told you need an X-ray and you’re not sure, get a second opinion.

The clinic pressures you to keep going but you don’t feel any benefit

People use chiropractors and manual therapists in different ways. Some use them just to alleviate pain, some to help them function better, others for sports performance, relaxation or any other number of ways that they might benefit. So, if you look forward to your adjustment every month or two, there’s no reason to stop. But if you don’t, your chiropractor should make it easy for you to leave care... And easy to return to care should you need them again.

What to do if you think you’ve had bad advice

You should feel able to discuss any problems with your clinician. If you’re thinking of making a complaint, all clinics should have a clear complaints policy and it should be an easy process. Roadblocks to processes like this are another sign of badly run clinics.

If you’re just thinking of switching up your care, it can be very useful to garner a few second opinions when you’re not sure about the quality of what you’re receiving. Most chiropractors will be able to offer you a brief confidential discussion about your condition over the phone, often for no charge. Like we do.