Is chiropractic care right for your problem?
It is a good fit when the problem is musculoskeletal: back pain, neck pain, headaches that start in the neck, sciatica, joint stiffness, sports and overuse injuries, and pain after a collision. It is a reasonable fit for pregnancy-related back pain and for arthritic stiffness, with gentler techniques. It is not the right first stop for pain with fever, weight loss, a history of cancer, bladder or bowel changes, progressive weakness, chest pain, or any symptom that is not clearly coming from a joint or muscle. For those, see a medical doctor first. A good chiropractor will tell you the same and will refer you out.
Credentials by country
Chiropractic is a regulated profession in most English-speaking countries and many others, and the training is substantial: four to five years of university-level study with anatomy, diagnosis, imaging and supervised clinical practice. In some countries it is unregulated, which means anyone can use the title. Check the register.
| Country | Training | Licensing | How to verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.), a 4-year postgraduate doctorate after undergraduate study | National Board of Chiropractic Examiners exams; state license required in all 50 states | Your state chiropractic board's license lookup |
| Canada | Doctor of Chiropractic from an accredited program (CMCC, UQTR) | Canadian Chiropractic Examining Board; provincial college registration | Provincial college public register |
| United Kingdom | Degree from a GCC-recognised programme (typically 4-5 years) | Registration with the General Chiropractic Council is required by law | GCC online register |
| Australia | 5-year accredited university programme | Registration with AHPRA through the Chiropractic Board of Australia | AHPRA register |
| New Zealand | Accredited degree (NZ College of Chiropractic) | Chiropractic Board registration and annual practising certificate | Chiropractic Board of NZ register |
| European Union | Varies: statutory regulation in Denmark, Switzerland, the UK and some others; title protection elsewhere; unregulated in several countries | Check for membership of the national association affiliated with the European Chiropractors' Union | National association websites |
| Elsewhere | Regulation ranges from full licensing (South Africa, Hong Kong, some Latin American countries) to none | Look for graduation from a CCE-accredited college and membership of the World Federation of Chiropractic's national member | World Federation of Chiropractic member list |
Questions to ask before you book
- Are you licensed or registered here, and where can I check? (In New York: the Office of the Professions license verification.)
- What conditions do you mainly treat? You want someone whose answer is musculoskeletal problems, not "everything."
- Will I be examined before I am adjusted, and will you explain what you find?
- How many visits do you expect, and when will we review whether it is working?
- Do you give exercises to do at home?
- When would you refer me to a medical doctor or for imaging?
- What does a visit cost, and what does my insurance cover?
Good signs
- An examination on the first visit, with a clear explanation of the findings.
- A treatment plan with a number of visits and a review date.
- Exercise and self-care as part of every plan.
- Willingness to say "this is not something I treat" or "see your doctor first."
- Imaging ordered when the exam calls for it, not for everyone.
- Communication with your other providers when needed.
Red flags
- Pressure to sign a long prepaid package of dozens of visits on the first day.
- Routine full-spine X-rays on every new patient.
- Claims to treat or prevent diseases unrelated to the spine and joints: asthma, ear infections, allergies, colic, immune problems.
- Telling you that you must be adjusted for life, or that stopping care will cause your spine to deteriorate.
- Discouraging vaccination, medication or medical care in general.
- Adjusting without examining, or adjusting every patient the same way.
- A practitioner who is not on the register.
The first-visit test
After your first appointment, ask yourself three things. Did I understand what is wrong with me? Do I know what the plan is and when it ends? Did I leave with something to do at home? If the answer to all three is yes, you have found a good one. If the answer is no, it is fine to leave.
If you are in New York
Chiropractors in New York are licensed by the State Education Department and you can verify any license online through the Office of the Professions. Manhattan Chiropractic Health Services sits at 7 West 45th Street in Midtown, three blocks from Grand Central, and the practice is built around the standards on this page: examination first, plans with end dates, exercises every time, and honest referrals. Read about Dr. Josef Malkis, check the first visit guide, and book on Zocdoc when it makes sense.