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Chiropractors have been helping patients since 1895 and the changes in healthcare have had a large effect on how Chiropractors take care of people. Most people do not know where to start since their medical doctors do not have a Chiropractic education or training and rarely refer to Chiropractors. Millions of people go to Chiropractors with great success but how do you choose the right one for you? There are very significant differences between Chiropractors and knowing what to look for is essential in increasing your success. If you are already going to a Chiropractor, I hope that he or she meets these minimum requirements. Ask these five questions so you can feel confident in choosing the right Chiropractor.

1. Do they check for Subluxations?

This is the #1 question that a Chiropractor MUST be able to answer emphatically yes to. Of course many patients go to Chiropractors for back pain, mid back and lower back and neck pain. People even go for help with sciatica, migraines, arthritis, more complicated muscular pain issues in addition to autoimmune disorders, digestive disorders and many other health concerns. That is all true but the way a Chiropractor helps is by checking for spinal issues called subluxations that are effecting the nervous system from working correctly. So this MUST be a definite YES!

2. Do they take care of children?

I know you may be thinking this sounds unusual but it will make sense in a minute. In order to take care of children a Chiropractor must know how to use very gentle techniques which means they will be gentle with you. It also means they are health and wellness minded. Some Chiropractors only focus on crisis or what I call bandaid care. This is like your oil light going on and putting tape over it so you can not see it. Do not fall into this trap, make sure your Chiropractor sees children regularly. And of course children should be checked by a Chiropractor. A Pediatrician is not trained to check for spinal Subluxations and will most likely have very little knowledge as to why you would even have kids checked. Current research is showing amazing results with ear infections, colic, ADD, Asthma and a host of other childhood illnesses. But the best idea is to simply have children checked for the nervous system interference and let the reach their full potential regardless.

3. Do they use the most current technology?

It's the 21st century and Chiropractors MUST use technology that analyzes a patient and accurately and objectively assists the Chiropractor in finding the subluxations in the spine. There is an Advanced Computer Scan called a sEMG or Surface Electro Myo Graph that is much like an EKG of the heart. It is painless and shows exactly where the nerve and muscle imbalances are. Many times it will show imbalances that patients are unaware that helps the Chiropractor uncover the specific cause of the issue. Less than 10% of offices in the country use this level of technology, make sure yours does. There are many ways to check the nervous system for subluxations but having solid objective criteria is an absolute must. Many Chiropractors will focus on pain or symptoms, this is huge mistake. It misses the whole point of being a Chiropractor which is to release the Innate Intelligence of the body through specific Chiropractic adjustments. This can only be determined through objective means and the most advanced technology is vital to help in this endeavor. The benefit to the practice member is better and longer results, period.

4. Do they use a variety of Chiropractic techniques?

This refers to techniques which include a very specific and gentle approach. Chiropractic is the safest health discipline in the country but some people will suffer and not search out a local Chiropractor because of fear. A gentle technique is very soft and completely painless, unfortunately many Chiropractors may not be up to date on more gentle approaches. This allows children, elderly and patients in severe pain to experience tremendous benefits that other Chiropractors and other health professionals would not be able to help. The youngest practice member we ever adjusted was 1 hour young, that's right, 1 hour. The oldest SO FAR was 96 years old. Since everyone is unique then it makes sense that figuring out the perfect fit for each practice members takes knowledge of different techniques to get the best results.

5. Do they have ongoing health Workshops?

Chiropractors that care about patients will take the time to do the most important thing every doctor should do, educate. Health classes and workshops to teach about every aspect of health are vital so patients can learn how to take care of their family from a wellness perspective. Patients that go to workshops like this often get better, longer lasting results, save money and become less dependent on all doctors. It clearly shows who cares about their patients and which Chirorpactors actually know what they are talking about. Less than 10% of Chiropractors have regular workshops, make sure yours does. The United States is at the very bottom the the list of world longevity and yet it is mainly connected to lack of health knowledge. This must change, but it starts with information from reliable sources.

If you have any concerns feel free to contact me and I will help find the perfect Chiropractor for you, a friend or family member.

What is the difference between a computer and a person? It almost sounds like the beginning of a joke but the answer may surprise you. Let's look at the similarities first. Both can be programmed in order to complete certain tasks. In a person we call this learned intelligence. They can both be upgraded and learn more by being exposed to new information or software. Parts can be exchanged with other computers to repair them. They can both shut down for the night or actually be unplugged for good. So, then what is the difference?

In the year 2011 as I write this article I would like to think that the Medical system would understand how to care about helping people first. When I read an article from WebMd that clearly skews the information away from the scientific literature I have to question their agenda.

Back pain help is an article on WebMD which shows a perfect example of the major problems our Medical system creates because our reactive sickness care model that the Uinted States currently uses. 80% of Americans will experience back pain, mid back pain, neck pain, lower back pain with sciatica and much of it will become chronic pain. People seek out many treatment options while nerve and muscular problems, degenerative disc disease and arthritis, are said to often be the cause. Treatment with common drugs for back pain simply mask the underlying issues while allowing the decay and degeneration to continue. Treatment such as surgery for back pain is becoming increasingly common with very few patients having successful outcomes and many having complications and chronic pain regardless.  Of course on the WebMD site it is difficult to find Chiropractic and back pain together. Since scientific literature shows that Chiropractic is far superior to all other methods it seems questionable that WebMD would leave this out. Chiropractors have been successful for millions of patients with acute as well as chronic back and neck pain issues.

The worst part about WebMDs ignorance is that Chiropractors do not treat back pain, neck pain, muscular pain, sciatica, arthritis, etc. To a Chiropractor this is simply a body signal. The real underlying issue is often known as a Subluxation. While these other more dangerous treatment options do not remove the underlying cause the patient usually ends up in a Chiropractors office years later. Chiropractors continue having excellent success because removing interference in the spine and letting the body's own healing mechanisms is always benefical to the person. This is not a treatment or modality, it is a unique way of assisting the wisdom of the human body to express itself and function the way it is intended to. Regardless of other options you may learn about, the best one would include a visit to a Chiropractor to get checked. Make sure you read my upcoming article on how to pick the right Chiropractor. http://healingpotential.com/blog/b_6178_5_steps_to_picking_a_chiropractor.html

Imagine, was a classic song by the late John Lennon. "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."

His words were simple yet profound and they remind me of a situation in Chiropractic and people's lives in general. First let's mention the norm. Most people do not worry about their cars until an unusual noise starts appearing. Most people do not save for a rainy day, yet they usually take vacations and buy holiday gifts until it hurts. Most Americans have to penny pinch throughout their golden years just to get by. Most people would not think of speaking with a marriage counselor until they hit a wall, are ready for divorce and need immediate help. Most people do not exercise regularly and of course we all know January is the biggest month for gyms and fitness centers of all kinds because of New Year's Resolutions. Obesity is crippling our country, with children following what their parents teach them. And of course, most people do not go to Chiropractors until they are in such pain that they do not know what else to do. Usually people try Chiropractic after they have used drugs and sometimes surgery and are still in significant pain. Many Chiropractors have focused on pain relief and crisis which continues to teach patients that reactive thinking is ok. The number one reason for bankruptcy in the United States is Medical emergencies. Crisis does not work and Prevention is NOT the answer.

Now let's Imagine.

Imagine a world where non polluting cars could be maintained inexpensively on a regular basis so we did not have a crisis right before we were leaving for work. Imagine a retirement fund that allowed for traveling the world, taking care of your family while being able to share with others that are not as fortunate. Imagine working on communication and growth throughout your relationships so they could grow deeper and more meaningful as we age. Imagine being able to hike mountains, and throw the ball around with your Grandchildren. How amazing would it be if you stayed in excellent shape and actually taught your Great Grandchildren how to ride a bike or for that matter, do a hundred pushups. Imagine being under lifetime Chiropractic care, so your body was as healthy and functional as it was meant to be. Being able to enjoy life and all the other facets while saving a retirement fund worth of crisis dollars is a powerful idea. It is not just about preventing problems that might occur. It is all about Creating a better situation than you are currently experiencing. The essence of Chiropractic is to remove interference in your nervous system, allowing the Innate Intelligence of your body to fully express itself, and then watch you create the life of your dreams. When a person connects to this Big Idea, they want to improve all areas of their life. It's time to Stop imagining and start doing. Focus on more than pain free living. Focus on living a full life by Creating your future today. Lifetime Chiropractic care allows us to be everything we want to be. Imagine all the people...

Sincerely,

Dr. Ed Beck

Advanced Chiropractic Center

www.HealingPotential.com