Chiropractic instruments for your practice

If you’re not constantly improving your equipment and skills, you’re not likely to survive in business very long, no matter what your business is.

Sure, there’s a lot of value in things that withstand the test of time (like certain techniques and sturdy pieces of equipment), but the reality is that, with new research being conducted daily, every profession is constantly changing.

If you’re not keeping up, you’re probably going to get run over by your competitor.

This requires being aware of what chiropractic instruments can help you excel in your field and how to tell if they are worth your hard earned money. It is also helpful to know how to use them as a write off or tax benefit.

When it comes to offering your patients the best care you can, there are many different tools to choose from. While it’s impossible to name each and every one, there are some essential categories of instruments you want to consider having on hand.

Instruments to diagnose

You aren’t going to be able to effectively treat your patients if you don’t know what is wrong with them. Effectively diagnosing problems is essential to success. Having an X-ray machine so you can detect any subluxations or other spine-related problems is a good first step.

There are also other diagnostic tools you can purchase that aren’t as widely used. For instance, there are the devices that use electric current to determine if there are any musculature tension imbalances that could signal the presence of a subluxation.¹

That said, some insurance companies view this tool as “experimental and investigational” as a diagnostic test for evaluating low-back pain or other thoracolumbar segmental abnormalities.”²

Instruments to treat

To begin treatment, having a few different handheld instruments available to you will help. In addition to traditional adjusting instruments, a handheld massager can assist you in the treatment of tense patients, as it allows you to get their muscles to relax prior to the chiropractic session. Plus, it’s a great way to offer even better customer experience in your office.

Some pieces of equipment work both for diagnostics and treatment, which make them twice as valuable to have on hand. Some instruments on the market are capable of both analyzing the problem area using software and addressing it with the treatment device.

Look for quality

Before purchasing any type of instrument, you want to make sure the one you select is top quality, and there are a few ways you can do that. To start, ask other chiropractors that you know and trust what they use and how much they like it.

If you don’t know one that uses the particular instrument you want, you can also go online and look for reviews provided by other reputable and trustworthy professionals in the field.

It also helps read research involving the particular item you’re considering using. You can do this by conducting an Internet search or, some companies even list links to studies right on their website.

Don’t forget to write it off

No matter what types of tools you choose to further enhance your business, just remember to keep the receipts so you can use them as a tax write-off. Every dollar counts when you’re trying to lift your bottom line. Provide this information to your accountant to enjoy the benefits the government has to offer business owners.

Making sure you have the right high-quality tools is one way to increase the effectiveness and value of your chiropractic business, allowing you to treat your patients for years and years to come.

 

References

¹ Chiropractic Leadership Alliance. “Static And Dynamic Surface Electromyography (SEMG).” http://www.subluxation.com/productsservices/the-insight-subluxation-station/static-and-dynamic-surface-electromyography-semg/. Published July 2014. Accessed October 2015.

² Aetna. “Surface Scanning and Macro Electromyography.” http://www.aetna.com/cpb/medical/data/100_199/0112.html. Published April 2015. Accessed October 2015.