As a chiropractor who has worked with the everyday officer worker to the C-suite executives (and international sports athletes), I realised there are many misconceptions about what chiropractic care is about. For example:

• What makes a good chiropractor a good chiropractor?
• What is a chiropractor?
• Are chiropractor doctors?
• Is chiropractic recognised in Singapore?
• How much does it cost to see a chiropractor in Singapore?
• How often should you go to a chiropractor?
• What are the types of chiropractic treatments available in Singapore?

In addressing these issues, I hope to share some of the industry insights, both as a chiropractor and as a patient, so that you can find your own freedom from pain.

We are  the only chiropractic in Singapore who takes a true whole-person approach to helping our clients find long-term pain solutions. Since 2020, we have included personal training and dietetics to our offerings.

In helping you achieve your full potential, we ook at who you are, what are things like at home or work, what are your beliefs or values, what sort of motivational/behaviourial change strategies do you already have, and of course where you want to get to!

With all of that in mind, we co-construct your individualised pain solution with you to help you achieve freedom from pain.

Are chiropractors doctors?

A chiropractor, or doctor of chiropractic, is a health care provider who is trained to diagnose and treat joint and muscles disorders. Chiropractors are trained to treat patients of different ages from children to adults to seniors. Contrary to popular belief, chiropractors do not work with bones.

Chiropractors are NOT medical doctors or orthopaedic doctors.

While chiropractic patients often address their chiropractors as “doctor”, this is strictly a professional courtesy.

It is true that chiropractic specialists trained in the United States are conferred with a doctor of chiropractic degree. This refers to the nature of the doctorate program. Likewise veterinarians would be conferred with a doctor of veterinary medicine degree and physiotherapists with a doctor of physical therapy.

The Ministry of Health previously stated that chiropractors “cannot practise medicine as doctors”.

Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar, MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, had brought up the issues surrounding the practice of chiropractic in Singapore. It was revealed that misleading use of titles (e.g. the doctor salutation) is one of the common complaints received by MOH.

The confusion around the usage of the doctor title is not limited to Singapore or the chiropractic profession. Read more at Who is entitled to the title of “doctor”?

Are chiropractors recognised in Singapore?

Chiropractic is not recognised in Singapore as an allied health profession and is considered a complementary and alternative medicine.

This means that chiropractors in Singapore are not regulated under the Private Hospital and Medical Clinic Act (PHMCA) or the Allied Health Professions Act. As such, chiropractors are free to do as they wish with little to no consequence.

What is chiropractic?

Not all chiropractors are trained the same.

Traditional chiropractors – known also as “straight” chiropractors – believe they can correct “subluxations” or misalignment in the spine with chiropractic adjustments. According to them, spinal misalignment disrupts the nervous system and correction of the “subluxations” will give better health.

However, there is no evidence to support a subluxation-based approach to pain and injury.

Modern chiropractors apply the latest research in their treatments.

We follow an evidence-based framework and utilise the research-proven treatments to help you achieve faster recovery.

When it comes to managing lower back pain, advice, education, and exercise the #1 treatment (The Lancet, 2018).

Choosing the best chiropractor in Singapore

Needless to say, I think I am the best chiropractor in Singapore. Of course asking you to believe that will be a hard sell. So I have put together a list of what to look for to determine who is the best chiropractor.

When it comes to the top performers in chiropractic, we have one thing in common: we prioritise our clients over our profitability.

Square One Active Recovery started as a passion project to transform the Singapore chiropractic industry. I wanted to offer evidence-based chiropractic care that is focused at the wellbeing of my clients.

This means challenging your unhelpful beliefs and getting you to choose making the hard change for long-term results.

The best chiropractors don’t just look at your “misalignment”. We look at at what you are already doing and what we can do better so you can achieve your own freedom from pain.

Read more: Here’s how you choose a good chiropractor or physiotherapist in Singapore

Chiropractor Prices (Singapore)

Chiropractic fees can start from as little as $9!

However, the average price of chiropractor ranges between $80 to $120 depending on the number of sessions purchased.

When choosing a chiropractor, it is important to note that sessions needed to achieve your recovery goal. Some chiropractic clinics offer packages upwards of 40 sessions that can cost as much as $4,320.

Do not fall for hard-selling tactics

A quick search of the Internet will bring up multiple horror stories of chiropractors using fear-mongering tactics (The Straits Times) to sign clueless patients up for chiropractic packages.

These encounters usually start with a cheap chiropractic promotion and end up a often expensive and unnecessary package. Some clinics even offer 90-session packages!

Read more: The Chiropractic Adjustment – Seven Hard Truths You Want To Know

How much is chiropractic treatment in Singapore?

*Please contact the clinics directly for updates on the latest fee or promotions
^I was unable to find the fee structure for the bigger chiropractic chains such as Chiropractic First, Natural Healings, or True Chiropractic.

Square One Active Recovery does indeed charge a higher fee compared to our competitors.

This is because we don’t compete on price. We compete on value. While some clinics charge upwards of $5,000 for a chiropractic package that will require you to keep coming back for years, most of our clients will only work with us for 4 to 7 sessions! Because I do not offer any form of dependency care, my clients don’t have to keep coming back!

This why, despite our high fees, our clients would still save money by choosing us.

The Allure of Cheap Chiropractors

You may consider our competitors over us because they are cheaper. They do indeed have lower prices. You can find discount chiropractors on Fave (previously Groupon) for as little as $9 per session!

“Affordable” and cheap care, at the expense of a quality and meaningful therapeutic relationship, is their selling point!

You have to do your homework and your due diligence. Find out how much chiropractor Singapore cost. I am going to guess your chiropractic experience with discount chiropractors will be no less unpleasant than the ones I had back in the day.

Cheap chiropractors in Singapore offer steep promotion (up to 94% on Fave, believe it or not) for an opportunity to sell you a package that will easily cost you thousands of dollars.

Most chiropractors in Singapore are also remunerated on a sales-based commission model – not results! There is no incentive to help you get better, faster. Their relationship with you ends the moment you commit, on pen and paper, to their package. From that moment on, you become one of the many bodies that pass through their clinic each day.

You have been warned. Make sure you ask those questions before moving ahead. Based on their responses, you should be able to gauge if they are indeed the right place for you.

Believe it or not, we have a money-back guarantee at Square One. Because you come first. Always.

Read more: Four Things Your Chiropractor Doesn’t Want You To Know

I am tooting my own horn here but Square One Active Recovery offers the highest value.

Instead of helping you feel better with chiropractic adjustments (i.e. dependent on me to feel better), I teach you to “fish” for your own pain relief.

This means you are 100% not dependent on us and you don’t have to keep coming back!

*Dr Theo from Light Chiropractic has informed us he also offer lots of free advice and do free workshops for the public in my office. Please do reach out to his office for more details.

p.s. I am not affiliated to Dr Theo or Light Chiropractic.

How many chiropractic sessions do I need?

Do you know over 80% of our clients leave our care within 4 to 7 visits? Doesn’t matter if it’s neck pain, shoulder pain, or knee pain. I am about helping you achieve pain-free living and with full function.

Why do I get such results?

It’s because research says exercise works and that’s exactly what I offer.

Exercise-based therapy and pain education are recommended by all international clinical guidelines as the solution to long-term pain relief.

If you are asking me how often you should get adjusted, I’d say you should see a chiropractor for four to seven sessions across a two to three-month period. It is true and fair for complex cases to need extra sessions. However, you shouldn’t be getting adjusted thrice a week for 12 weeks.

It’s simply too much.

The truth is you will likely pay more per visit at Square One. (The most expensive by far charges $120 for two minutes). I understand our approach to care is different (long treatment sessions, prescribed home exercises, and more expensive fees) and does not suit everyone.

I charge more per session because I spend more time with our clients to make sure I correctly understand your needs. The end result? My patients get better faster.

Each and every one of our patients is unique and I want to ensure I customise their care to their specific needs. I believe in giving you more value for your dollar. Because that’s what builds a stronger, healthier community.

I consistently deliver results our competitors cannot match! Square One Active Recovery one of the most successful clinics in Singapore with a stellar track record of 100% 5-star reviews on Google (as of publication time). Don’t forget – I am still the only clinic with a 100% money-back policy in place!

Chiropractors are effective musculoskeletal health experts trained to diagnose and treat your daily aches and pain.

There are many good reasons to see a chiropractor but only you can decide who is best for you. Finding an affordable chiropractor Singapore is hard work and I welcome you to talk to us should you need more help in determining who is best for you. I promise you will be in good hands!