Common Questions Asked About Chiropractic Treatment

Even though millions of people have benefited from chiropractic care, there is a substantial level of confusion surrounding the industry. Some people have misconceptions about the treatments offered by professional chiropractors. Others are unaware of the disorders they treat. Still others have heard rumors that place the industry in an unfavorable light, and accept them as truth despite evidence to the contrary.

The purpose of this article is to clarify the main areas of confusion, and better explain a form of treatment for musculoskeletal disorders that is largely misunderstood. We’ll address some of the most common questions patients ask about chiropractic care below.

What Does A Chiropractor Do?

Chiropractors are licensed physicians who treat disorders by focusing on spinal manipulation. Rather than prescribing medications and performing surgery, they apply hands-on techniques to adjust patients’ vertebrae.

Chiropractic care is based on the idea that the body’s functions are controlled by signals that originate in the brain, and are distributed via the nervous system. Because these signals flow through the spinal cord, misalignments in the vertebral column lead to a host of ailments. A chiropractor can help resolve them by performing minor adjustments.

What Type Of Disorders Do Chiropractors Treat?

This depends, in part, on whether the chiropractor specializes in specific areas of treatment, or offers general care. For example, many professionals focus on sports medicine, occupational health, and imaging studies for diagnosing particular disorders. Others concentrate on joint pain, nutrition counseling, and rehabilitation following injuries.

Nearly all chiropractic physicians can treat general ailments, such as neck and back pain, joint discomfort, and persistent headaches. Most can also address symptoms related to tendinitis, whiplash, and degenerative disc disease.

What Does “Subluxation” Mean?

This is a term commonly used in the chiropractic industry to refer to misalignments in the vertebral column. It is believed that minor dislocations in the bones of the spine are responsible for an assortment of dysfunctions, causing pain and disrupting the body’s processes. Thus, the chiropractor’s goal is to identify such misalignments, and restore the spine’s natural form.

How Much Training Does A Chiropractor Receive?

Before earning a chiropractic degree, the student must complete an undergraduate program as well as a program of advanced study. The former requires three to four years while the latter requires an additional four to five years. Advanced study must be done at a college that has received accreditation from the Council on Chiropractic Education (COCE).

By the time a graduate begins full-time work in a professional clinic, he or she has received at least seven years of education. In addition, each state mandates that chiropractic doctors pass exams in order to earn a license to practice in the state.

Is Ongoing Treatment Necessary?

Many people have heard that ongoing chiropractic treatment is necessary for lasting relief from pain. This may be true in some cases. To understand the reason, it’s important to be familiar with the goal of treatment in the context of how the body reacts to the daily stress placed upon it.

As noted earlier, chiropractors adjust the spinal column in order to resolve misalignments in the vertebrae. Doing so restores the spine’s natural form, helping to minimize the pain and discomfort associated with numerous ailments. Throughout the day, however, the patient’s spine endures tremendous stress from routine activities. Sitting with poor posture, falling down, and lifting items that are too heavy can cause subluxations. In such cases, chiropractic therapy is needed to correct them. Ongoing treatment is sometimes worthwhile, though much depends on the patient’s daily activities.

Do Chiropractors Ever Prescribe Drugs?

In most cases, no. The chiropractic industry bases its hands-on approach to treatment on the idea that the body can usually heal itself, given the right circumstances (e.g. properly-aligned vertebrae). Chiropractors feel that drugs impede this process, and cause side effects. For this reason, use of medications is avoided.

The above merely scratches the surface of the chiropractic industry. But it offers a glimmer of insight into a form of treatment that is largely misunderstood.