Perhaps you are new to town and you are looking for that great new chiropractor with whom to build a professional relationship.

While it may be easier to find a new doctor or dentist—after all, almost everyone has one that they like or tell you to stay away from, or doctors they've tried and disliked. Finding a new chiropractor is a bit harder.

While chiropractic is an established science as well as an art, and there are many reputable schools training future chiropractors, this kind of healing touch is still considered to be an alternative form of medicine and not everyone has a chiropractor yet.

Add to this the fact that oftentimes, the established medical establishment is suspicious of chiropractors, it is not surprising that it is hard to find that great chiropractor for your aching back.

Fortunately, if you follow a few simple steps, you will be rewarded with a gem of a practitioner.

First and foremost, consider what you are looking for. Are you looking for a chiropractor who works in close concert with the established medical professions and will consider himself a part of your healthcare team, working alongside your internist, cardiologist, and any other medical professional you trust?

Conversely, you may be looking for someone who will become the supporting pillar of your medical care, someone who is more closely aligned with the members of the alternative medical community. Someone who would feel more at home discussing your health with an aromatherapist and acupuncturist.

Finding out a chiropractor’s healthcare philosophy is just as important as learning about his or her skill level and areas of expertise.

Of course, there is no way you can get a feeling of the chiropractic care you might receive better than actually visiting a chiropractor’s office.

When you arrive, ask yourself some questions. Do you feel comfortable? Do you feel like you are being rushed? Are the magazines in the waiting room old? I know it may seem funny, but old magazines in any waiting room have been shown to be equated with antiquated care, philosophy of treatment, and a general lack of communication with the patients.

Once you see the doctor, ascertain if she or he is truly listening to you. Do you feel like the doctor is otherwise occupied, or are you consistently interrupted by assistants who need an answer to a question? Does the doctor try to finish your sentences for you? Does she or he present you with a diagnosis or treatment plan that is radically different from the one your previous chiropractor had suggested? Keep in mind that this is not necessarily a bad idea; as a matter of fact, if you find that your previous chiropractic treatment has yielded little if any results, a new change of pace might be just what the doctor ordered. Yet if the previous treatment worked, find out why the new doctor wants to change course.

Follow these tips, and finding a new chiropractor will be a cinch!