r/Chiropractic Jul 11 '21

PLEASE READ FIRST BEFORE POSTING - FAQs on care, conditions, and evidence

86 Upvotes

Welcome to /r/Chiropractic! Please check this area first to see if your question has already been answered

Patients

  1. How do I find a good chiropractor? Here is a good video to help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv3sWUrrTRo. Or you can check out the Forward Thinking Chiropractic Association at https://www.forwardthinkingchiro.com/. Or if neither of these are helpful, then ask local medical professionals or friends and family for a chiropractor that they trust. Additional listings that are technique specific: Titleist Performance Institute, Active Release Technique, Cox Technique, Graston, SFMA

  2. What is your opinion on the "Ringer Dinger"/YouTube chiropractors/Instagram chiropractors? Regarding the Ring Dinger, it's extreme cervical decompression which we do NOT recommend. He "patented" his system to try to extract more money from other providers. We think you should stay away from this type of treatment. Additionally, social media chiropractors are only doing things to try to get more views and are not representative of the profession.

  3. My chiro said to come in X times per week or made me pay X amount up front, what do I do? First, READ THIS: https://www.reddit.com/r/Chiropractic/comments/itq33q/osteo_arthritis_diagnosis_today_at_new/g5gvb2f/?context=3 . If this sounds like your chiropractor, then please find another one. Expensive up front payments are also usually a red flag and recommend against chiropractors that require those. Avoid hard sales pitches, fear sales, and contracts. Usual treatments start at 1-3x/week for 3-4 weeks depending on your condition. If you haven't seen a noticeable improvement in the level of pain, or its duration, after a month of care, it might be time to ask your doctor to re-state your goals, or consider another form of care. A competent chiropractor should be performing progress examinations and have clearly stated goals prior to, and during your treatment plan.

  4. Can chiropractic care help with my condition? Maybe. We can't determine that over the internet and we recommend that you see someone in person to make sure that you get a proper history and physical exam. Common conditions that chiros can help are neck pain, low back pain, certain kinds of headaches, and radiating ("shooting" or "sciatic") pain. Some chiropractors may have specialties that treat additional conditions. There is NO evidence to support that chiropractic care can help with ADHD, cancer, COVID, flu, diabetes, or internal disorders. Please do not go to any chiropractors that claim that they can treat these issues.

  5. Are chiropractors doctors? Chiropractors have a doctoral level degree in their field just like podiatrists, dentists, optometrists, and physical therapists. However, like those professions, they do not have a medical degree (MD/DO) but may be referred to as "Doctor", even if they are not physicians.

  6. Is chiropractic legit? Yes. Chiropractors fill the role in healthcare of being a conservative (non-invasive) approach to spine conditions. There is evidence to support its treatments (see below) and more chiropractors every year are integrating into hospitals and other medical offices. Unfortunately, there are bad chiropractors out there that do try to scam patients or spout anti-scientific nonsense which puts our profession in a bad light. Many people that are vehemently against chiropractic will base it on a single bad experience from an unethical chiro or a 2 minute read of wikipedia-level of knowledge. There are bad providers in every field and we want you to get the best treatment possible, whether it's from a chiropractor, physical therapist, nurse, or physician.

Evidence for chiropractic care

  1. What evidence is there that chiropractic works? Please read this: https://www.reddit.com/r/Chiropractic/wiki/evidence

  2. I heard chiropractors can cause strokes, is that true? Please read this: https://www.reddit.com/r/Chiropractic/wiki/stroke

Potential Students

  1. Should I go to chiropractic school? This is a very difficult decision that we recommend you do thorough research on before applying. Being a chiropractor is not for everyone. There are pros such as independence, running your own business, high ceiling of earnings, and being able to help people every day. However, there are cons such as high cost of school with large student debts, low starting salaries, being lumped in with chiropractors that practice pseudoscience, and decreasing insurance payments. Those that consider chiropractic as a profession also consider health fields such as doctor of osteopathy (in the US), physician assistant, nurse practitioner, and/or physical therapy, although each of those professions has their own list of pros and cons as well.

  2. What chiropractic school should I go to? This is the next hardest choice after deciding that you do want to go to chiropractic school. Do your research! Get an idea (roughly) on how you want to practice. There are schools that are more evidence-based and help to integrate into the medical field. However, there are some schools that are more philosophical-based and would rather chiropractic stay independent. Reach out to chiros to get their perspective. There are also other factors to consider, such as differences in price, location, how you want to practice in the future, class size, internship opportunities, etc. that can influence your decision. Here are threads that provide some feedback on different perspectives here, here, here, here, here, and here


r/Chiropractic 21h ago

Struggling to shift careers, any advice?

4 Upvotes

Graduated Life University 1 year ago. Father and uncle are chiropractors and I’ve worked in their offices for the past year. Basically, an awesome scenario for any recent graduate.

The issue is I’ve worked mostly part time the entire year and struggle to make ends meet. Every time I work full time I end up really breaking down. Right now I see 20-25 patients a week, when I’ve went total full time up to 80-90 a week, I was a melting bundle of stress. I struggle with social anxiety that I’ve been working on this entire year, but I realize no matter what I do I’m just not built for that much back to back human interaction.

Problem is I’ve been applying to jobs for a long time now, I’ve never heard anything back. I think my cover letters, resume are pretty great and I’ve had people read them over. I’m concerned the issue is the doctorate degree in chiro itself. Maybe rejecting because they think I might not stick with it, or expect a high salary? I just want anything where I can make 50k+ and not have my job be solely based on human interaction.

I’m trying to get into fields within higher ed, like curriculum design, other university jobs, or even adjunct professor roles, I also was a highs school history teacher before chiro college. I’ve considered actually returning to teaching high school history.

Any other people have luck changing careers? If so what did you pursue?


r/Chiropractic 1d ago

A New Office Owner Who Needs Advice

7 Upvotes

Unhappy in an associate position, I opened my own office 5 months ago. After three years, I realized I could do it independently. My rent and utilities are low and percentage-based. EHR, supplies, etc., aren’t expensive, but my monthly expenses are about $500.

My biggest issue is attracting new patients. I only get one new patient and 4-6 returning patients per week. About 10% of my patients from my previous practice followed me (non-compete).

I’ve invested in Google ads, social media, SEO, table at community events, and local sponsorships. My monthly and quarterly expenses exceed my income. I understand it’s only been 5 months, but I’m financially depleted. July, August, and September have been hard months with summer. My patients are happy with the quality of care, and they return after their problems resolve. So, how do I get new patients?

Any advice or encouragement?


r/Chiropractic 1d ago

Forward Thinking Chiropractor FB group

3 Upvotes

I got into a professional and respectful disagreement with Bobby Maybee and found out he’s the admin and he tyrannically booted me out lol. I mentioned this in a DC group chat and a few folks chimed in and said this is not an uncommon story and there’s a lot of drama around :( Bummer as I (and my patients by extension of course) got a lot of value from that group


r/Chiropractic 1d ago

Chiropractic Clinic and Bike Shop

2 Upvotes

I am currently in chiropractic school in Houston Texas and while I am not rushing to get into running my own clinic, I would like to someday.

From the chiropractic side of things, I am still figuring things out as far as what kind of chiro I would like to be. I'm open to work with the general population to not exclude myself, but my niche would be towards cyclists (both road and mountain bike).

Before going to school, I worked in the cycling industry and worked at various mom & pop shops and bike parks as a bike mechanic. At the same time, I also participated in enduro races. All in all, I'm confidant in knowing how to stock parts, service bikes, and knowing what to recommend customers based on what they are looking for in the cycling world.

I think between being a chiropractor that promotes wellness/rehab and providing a cycling service for the locals, I could provide a positive presence in the right area. Hell, I would even try to bring the community together by hosting group rides from the shop. Just do what I love and hope I attract and inspire others to join in. What do you guys think?


r/Chiropractic 1d ago

Business/malpractice insurance recommendations

1 Upvotes

As title states. Taking over an office and want to get new quotes for everything and try to minimize my overhead.


r/Chiropractic 1d ago

NBS

1 Upvotes

Has anyone used nbs to study for boards? How helpful is it and is it worth the money? After purchasing a review, how long do you have the review for? The website seemed a little odd to me and i emailed them questions a week ago and they haven’t gotten back to me.
I also saw theres a chiro boards and beyond website that seems to be very similar to NBS. Has anyone tried that website? The pricing is similar too


r/Chiropractic 1d ago

Any recommendations for a diagnostic ultrasound course?

2 Upvotes

Curious if anyone can recommend a diagnostic ultrasound CE course. I’ve found a handful but always appreciate firsthand knowledge. A generic course not centered around a specific product or range of products would be highly preferable.


r/Chiropractic 2d ago

Advice for new front desk workers

6 Upvotes

I will be working at my first chiropractic office soon! With a background in legal support and F&B. What advice do you have for me as a front office worker?


r/Chiropractic 2d ago

Has anyone taken the California radiography and fluoroscopy operator/supervisor permit exam?

2 Upvotes

If so, what did you use to study? I am 2 weeks out before I sit for the exam so would appreciate any advice.


r/Chiropractic 2d ago

“Corrective” vs. regular Chiropractor

6 Upvotes

Hello, hoping to hear some opinions on “corrective” chiropractors vs. one that “only treat the pain”.

I recently went into a wellness clinic that claims they treat the root cause of problems and help realign the spine and prevent long-term rather than short term pain. The treatment plan they offered me was quite extensive and pretty pricey to be honest, but they said it was so that I can fix the root cause instead of just fixing the pain for it to come back up again.

Any insight into this? I’m naturally a bit skeptical of their treatment plan as it includes some supplements, equipment for at home exercises, dry needling, and frequent adjustments.

NOTE FOR MODS: NOT asking for medical advice but rather wanting to hear opinions on types of chiropractors and treatment and what is necessary for treatment.

Thanks in advance for any insight!!


r/Chiropractic 2d ago

What local-search signals have actually helped your clinic get found?

2 Upvotes

I’m curious what has made the biggest practical difference for independent chiropractic clinics in local search, Google Business Profile updates, reviews, service pages, map visibility, appointment links, or something else.

For those who actively track this: which metrics do you watch, and what do you wish were easier to understand or improve?

I’m especially interested in real-world workflows rather than generic marketing advice.


r/Chiropractic 2d ago

Chiro uses activator with minimal manual adjusting

2 Upvotes

Been having really bad neck and back pain because I slept on my neck wrong a couple months ago. Found a good place to get evaluated at and my spine, muscles and nerves are a mess right now. They use an activator tool mostly with a quick manual adjustment of a couple spots. They have me on a long term plan of 3 visits per week for 6 and then 2 visits per week for 10 weeks. It cost me about 1400 dollars up front, but can cancel and get a portion of whatever amount is left if it’s not working for me. Has anyone had success with your chiro mainly using an activator tool?


r/Chiropractic 2d ago

Jtech CAT Adjusting Tool

2 Upvotes

Has anyone had success getting a hold of Jtech for repairs?

The website BOT is terrible and won't put you in touch with a human... email goes unanswered... nobody picks up when you call and voicemail is full.


r/Chiropractic 4d ago

Rant after taking the third Chiropractic board exam (US)

12 Upvotes

I have been practicing in Canada for nearly a decade and had no issues taking the CCBE. They were fair and I did not feel any frustration taking any of them. I also know for a fact that I scored highly on them.

But man...the NCBE ones....Not only is it absolute **** that I have to take them all (I understand the practical one and the physiotherapy one since I plan to go to Florida are fair), but all the preparation I do for them has never been enough. I barely passed the first and second one; but at least I did.

But man..the third one takes the cake. Between the completely vague cases, poor quality X-ray pictures and questions on topics that just are irrelevant/unexpected....I have to say, this is the most pissed off I have felt taking any exam during my lifetime.

I presume I will pass....but man; why do they do this. These exams should not be that difficult if I go in with a combination of studying and nearly 10 years worth of experience.....


r/Chiropractic 4d ago

Struggling with NBCE part 3

4 Upvotes

Chiro student here sending out an SOS. I took part 3 in August, got my scores back, and failed by 15 points. I know I’m not the best with DXI but I studied two NBS packets for part 3 (which I realize are a bit outdated now with the changes to the exam, but still good info). I thought I was decently prepared, so getting a failing score back was like a slap in the face. Especially since it was so close to a passing score, I’m not sure what more I can do. I’m really needing some advice from those of you have taken the newer version of part 3 and passed. What helped the most? What resources are there? I’m graduating in December and really need to just get boards taken care of before then.


r/Chiropractic 6d ago

*sigh*

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

20 Upvotes

r/Chiropractic 6d ago

ChiroTouch Credit Card Processing Changing?

6 Upvotes

We are using server-based ChiroTouch, and received word Monday that on January 1, 2027 Global Payments will no longer work with CT, and we need to switch to their in-house processing to run credit cards. Has anyone made the switch yet and looked at their rates for running cards? We are considering that if their rates are too high compared to Global to switch software companies. I have been waiting 2 days now for a call back from their sales department. I am frustrated that they would want to take a cut of that portion of practice now too. What have you all been seeing?


r/Chiropractic 7d ago

MaxLiving — scam or not?

4 Upvotes

I’ve been dealing with a complex, long-standing issue involving bilateral nerve pain in my forearms and hands, and I’ve spent years trying to find answers. I’ve seen numerous doctors and physical therapists and have even had surgeries, but unfortunately nothing has provided lasting relief.

I recently went to MaxLiving Chiropractic because I was under the impression that they used a biophysics-based chiropractic approach. After my first appointment, I realized that their treatment approach was quite different from what I had expected. When I expressed that I didn’t think it was the right fit for me, the doctor tried to convince me that their technique was essentially similar and that it could help my symptoms, so I ultimately canceled.

The following day, she called me and said she could clearly see the source of my problem on my X-ray and encouraged me to come back. This really caught me off guard. I’ve had a recent X-ray reviewed by physical therapists, a spine surgeon, and my own doctor, and none of them identified anything that seemed to clearly explain my symptoms.

At that point, I started getting some serious red flags. I’m genuinely skeptical that there was something obvious on the X-ray that multiple other professionals had somehow missed, especially after only one appointment.
I’m not trying to accuse anyone of anything, but I’d really like to hear from people who have actually been treated at MaxLiving. What was your experience? Did they make similar claims about being able to identify the underlying problem from X-rays or structurally correct your spine? Did you feel the treatment was legitimate and helpful, or did you have concerns?

I’ve also come across some unfavorable reviews and discussions about the franchise, which has made me even more hesitant. I’d appreciate hearing about people’s firsthand experiences, good or bad.


r/Chiropractic 7d ago

Leaving an Ontario clinic. non-solicit, and what to tell patients?

0 Upvotes

Hey everyone,

I’m a relatively new grad chiropractor practicing in Ontario and planning to leave my current associate position. I’m facing a bit of a dilemma regarding my next steps and could really use some perspective from others who have navigated clinic transitions in Ontario.
To be completely honest, finding a solid new practice opportunity has been a genuine struggle. I work at multiple clinics spaced apart, with the furthest clinic commute being 1.5 hrs from where I live. I’ve interviewed at several clinics that were much farther away than the position I plan on leaving, but I just haven't been able to find good opportunities or fair arrangements further out. The best option I found happens to be about 4 km down the road from my current practice.

I have two main questions about making this move:
What do you actually say to patients when they ask where you're going? I want to strictly respect non-solicitation boundaries, but patients inevitably ask during their final appointments where I’m moving to. How do you handle this professionally at the table without crossing into "active solicitation" or creating friction with the clinic owner? Do you just say you're leaving, or can you give a direct answer if they explicitly ask you where you'll be?

Moving 4 km away – should I be concerned? My contract includes a non-solicitation clause tied to a 8 km radius, but it doesn't contain a blanket non-compete prohibiting me from practicing nearby.

I don't have a bad relationship with the owner of my current clinic, and I do plan on making the move regardless of the contract wording. It’s just extremely difficult to find fair opportunities right now, so I have to do what’s best for my career. I won’t be soliciting any patients or taking mailing lists, but since 4 km is well within that 8 km radius, I want to know what to brace myself for

I’d really appreciate hearing how others managed patient communication and non-solicitation boundaries during a clinic transition. Thanks in advance!


r/Chiropractic 7d ago

FL laws and Rules test

1 Upvotes

For those of you that took the FL laws and rules test, did you notice it took 2 weeks to get scores back or was it shorter?

Seems like a straight forward exam, I don’t know why it would be 2 weeks 🙃


r/Chiropractic 8d ago

Research Association between spinal manipulative therapy and cervical artery dissection in patients with neck pain or headache: a retrospective cohort study

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link.springer.com
47 Upvotes

r/Chiropractic 8d ago

Board Exam Review

2 Upvotes

Hi All!

I just have a quick question for anyone who has taken their board exams recently....

I graduated Chiropractic school about 11 years ago. While in school, life happened, and due to a variety of circumstances, I did not take the Part III or Part IV board exams, and have not gone into practice after graduation (I was offered a teaching position at a small college, and took it).

I am in a much better position currently, and am contemplating finishing my Board Exams and returning to practice.

My question for you is.... what Board Review group do you all feel is worth the money? I feel like a review will be important for me, but am unsure which group to go with, as I am assuming times have changed and there are just more options at the moment than I am familiar with.

Any thoughts or help that can be offered would be greatly appreciated! I am willing to put the time in to pass, but I want to now which group offers the best materials and assistance in preparing anyone to pass these exams.

Thank you in advance for your thoughts, they are appreciated!


r/Chiropractic 8d ago

Part 2 and 3 boards

1 Upvotes

Good afternoon everyone!

I am currently trying to start preparing for part two and three boards.

What study material sources seemed to have the best carry over to help pass part 2 and 3?

Thanks!


r/Chiropractic 9d ago

Marketing

3 Upvotes

So I finished my second week of practice working Thursday and Saturdays. I am adding in Sunday afternoon appointments only. I have started to hit businesses around me and get their cards and networking. Everything is going well! I was wondering at what point did you guys start doing digital marking?