When I drive down the street these days, it seems as if there is a chiropractor on every corner. The difficult part is figuring out which chiropractor to go to. You might be reading this and thinking "I thought all chiropractors just crack and pop backs to relieve back pain." That is the absolute furthest thing from the truth.

Yes, there are those chiropractors that perform what Dr. Tony Palermo describes as the "FTHSAMI" (Find The High Spot And Mash It) technique. And there are chiropractors that don't perform adjustments, but offer nutritional counseling instead.

Chiropractors differ in their techniques as much as medical doctors. In medicine, you have orthopedists, podiatrists, gastroenterologists, proctologists, OB/GYNs, and the list goes on and on.

It's the same with chiropractic. You can see someone who does Blair Upper Cervical, NUCCA, Gonstead, diversified, applied kinesiology, Thompson, CBP, neuro-emotional technique, Logan basic, BEST, and, again, the list can go on and on.

What to Look For

Finding a good chiropractor is not hard, it might just take a little due diligence on your part. I've assembled a criteria that I think helps in finding a good chiropractor that you will feel comfortable with.

1.) Great Phone Etiquette- Calling around different chiropractic offices is where you'll probably start. Make sure that when you call, the person answering on the other end is outgoing and friendly.

Also, make sure they can explain to you what they do. Getting someone like 65-year-old Thelma, who has a deeper voice than Barry White from smoking two packs of cigarettes a day since she was sixteen, is probably the first and only indication you need to pass on that office.

2.) Great Office Staff- The front desk CA (Chiropractic Assistant) has to be friendly and helpful. No one likes filling out paperwork and new patient forms or packets. If the front desk CA can get you through the first day routine without you acquiring a headache is key.

Payment arrangements and scheduling also get taken care of by this person. Make sure they get you scheduled for at least two weeks worth of appointments right off the bat. This way, you're not wasting time trying to schedule your next appointment after every visit.

3.) Great Aesthetics- This is where you walk in to a chiropractic office and your first thought is "Wow!" The environment is peaceful, clean, organized, and flows smoothly.

Walking in somewhere where the doctor has a collection of old, worn furniture from a junkyard, the paint is peeling, and the front desk looks like someone took a leaf blower to a stack of papers is your sign to get out of there fast! This is something you'll notice right as you walk in, or at least you should.

4.) Doctor is an Effective Communicator- Sure, the chiropractor may be the most skilled at his or her technique. But if they don't explain to you in a way that you get it and understand the importance of your care, who cares how good they are at their technique?

An effective chiropractor will be able to explain your situation and how he or she can correct it. If they don't tell you anything or act like you wouldn't understand, there's your sign. I've seen chiropractors who think they know everything and the patient knows nothing. Not a fun time, I can assure you.

5.) Doctor Does Pre- and Post-Analysis- If you're going to see your traditional diversified "FTHSAMI" chiropractor, you might as well go to a physical therapist or an osteopath. The point is not to get your bones moved, it's to detect and correct vertebral subluxations. Ways that a doctor can check you are x-rays, leg checks, thermography scans, or muscle tests.

You want a chiropractor that can find a subluxation, if you have one. If you do, you want that chiropractor to correct it. Lastly, you want that chiropractor to make sure they removed the subluxation. Vertebral subluxations are so life-altering, especially in the upper cervical spine, that you better make sure your chiropractor can properly correct it.

6.) Know What Technique You Prefer- Knowing what technique a doctor utilizes in correcting a subluxation is important. Not everybody likes the same chiropractic technique. The Blair and NUCCA Upper Cervical techniques utilize a hand adjustment. Some people might prefer an Orthospinology or Atlas Orthogonal adjustment, which utilize a tool instead. You might like applied kinesiology, which takes a whole body approach and does its analysis by muscle testing. It's really up to you.

You have to know what you're looking for. Do some research online. It's not hard to find out about the different techniques. Once you do, find out which doctors use that particular technique in your area. Here is a great website to do just that. If your chiropractor has all six of these components as part of their practice, chances are that you're in good shape. If even one of these is missing, go find a chiropractic office that has all these components. They are out there. You just have to search.