Back injuries are problems for millions of Americans. Nearly 80% of the population is expected to suffer from some kind of back pain during their lives. Almost half of all American adults say they have back pain every year. Globally, nearly 1.5 billion people are reported to have problems with their backs. Many of these people turn to a chiropractor for sports injuries. If you are considering that as an option to help you deal with your back injury, here are some tips to help you find the right one.
Tips for Finding the Right Chiropractic Care Provider:
- Ask around. Given the number of people who experience back pain, you probably know at least a few people who have sought out help from chiropractors. Getting a personal recommendation is the best way to find a good chiropractor for sports injuries or for any back problems. Do not assume you know if a friend, relative or colleague has seen one. Check online and see if the chiropractic practice has been reviewed on Yelp or if people have mentioned it on Facebook. Keep in mind the fact that people are much more likely to complain than compliment so weigh the reviews accordingly. Different practies also may have patient recommendations on their sites.
- Ask your primary care doctor for referrals. Ask your doctor about chiropractors. If you have already seen a spine surgeon, ask them for referrals. If you have not seen a surgeonm, you may want to start your care at the chiropratic office first. People who see a chiropractic services expert first are about 28 times less likely to go in for surgery than people who start by visiting a surgeon.
- Talk to your insurance carrier. Chiropractor services are a lot cheaper than getting other back treatments and as a result, many insurance companies cover it. In fact, it will cost up to 20% less if you go to a chiropractor for sports injuuries first so they often encourage their members to go this route. They can give you a list of providers that are in their network and can offer more insight into the practices. Do not hesitate to ask them a lot of questions. While they often refer member to their website, you can sometimes get better information from them on the phone.
- Talk to a few chiropractors. Different chiropractors have different specialities and experiences on different kinds of injuries. Talk to a few chiropractors and see if you can connect with one. This is a more personal relationship than with other kinds of doctors. Chiropractic medicine is a very hands on specialty and you need to be completely at ease with the person or it will not really help you. Ask the different chiropractic providers how much experience they have treating your kind of injury. Ask them, too, how long they would expect your injury take to heal and how often you would need sessions with them. Most should be able to give you at least an estimate. Be wary of any that cannot answer these very basic questions. There should be an end date or at least an estimate for your treatment when they start.
Chiropractic medicine has come a long way in recent years. Many people seek out a chiropratcor for sports injuries now than ever before. In fact, all 32 teams in the National Football League send their injured players to Doctors of Chiropractic when it is warranted. They say a chiropractor for sports injuries helps the players’ functionality, endurance and overall conditioning.
If you find yourself in pain or you have hurt your back, a good place to start is at the chiropractic office. Not only can they help your injury but they can teach you ways to get and keep your back in the best possible condition for sports or just every day life. The good news about back problems is that they can really be treated and the pain does not have to last forever. Use these tips and you will find a good chiropractor for sports injuries or other back problems.