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| Chiropractic Care Chiropractic is a branch of the healing arts focused on human health and disease processes. Doctors of Chiropractic are physicians who consider people as an integrated being and give special attention to the physiological and biochemical aspects including structural, spinal, musculoskeletal, neurological, vascular, nutritional, and emotional and environmental relationships.
The practice and procedures which may be employed by Doctors of Chiropractic are based on the academic and clinical training received in and through accredited chiropractic colleges and include, but are not limited to, the use of current diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Such procedures specifically include the adjustment and manipulation of the articulations and adjacent tissues of the human body, and most specifically the spinal column. Included is the treatment of abnormalities to address functional disorders.
Chiropractic is a drug-free, non-surgical science and does not include pharmaceuticals or surgery. Chiropractic manipulation is one of several established forms of treatment used for back problems. Now, with today's growing emphasis on treatment options, manipulation is receiving much more widespread attention. Chiropractic manipulation, also frequently called the chiropractic adjustment, is the form of manipulation that has been most extensively used by Americans for the last one hundred years. Satisfied chiropractic patients already know that DCs are uniquely trained and experienced in diagnosing back problems and are the doctors most skilled in using manipulation for the treatment of back pain and related disorders (source: American Chiropractic Association).
Please watch the video to learn more about chiropractic: 
Facts About Chiropractic Chiropractic offers a conservative, non-invasive, and preventative approach to health care. As evidence supporting the effectiveness of chiropractic continues to emerge, consumers are turning in record numbers to chiropractic care a non-surgical, drug-free treatment option.
A few interesting facts on this increasingly popular form of health care: • Chiropractic is the largest, most regulated, and best recognized of the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) professions. (Meeker, Haldeman; 2002; Annals of Internal Medicine)
• There are more than 60,000 active chiropractic licenses in the United States. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands officially recognize chiropractic as a health care profession. • According to a study published in the January 2006 issue of the medical journal Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, approximately 7.4 percent of the population visited a doctor of chiropractic in 2002. In 2002, U.S. adults relied more on the conservative care offered by doctors of chiropractic, than of yoga, massage, acupuncture or other diet-based therapies.
• Doctors of Chiropractic undergo at least four years of professional study at one of 16 chiropractic colleges accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE), an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. In addition, Doctors of Chiropractic must pass national board examinations and become state-licensed prior to practicing.
• In national surveys, patients favor chiropractic over medical care for back or neck pain. Patients routinely rate Doctors of Chiropractic highly in skill, manner, and explanation of treatment.
• Chiropractic treatment is a covered benefit in many traditional insurance policies. In fact, according to some reports, as many as 87 percent of all insured American workers have coverage for chiropractic services in their health care plans. (American Chiropractic Association 2006) Frequently Asked Questions About Chiropractic What is the American Medical Association's Policy on Chriorpactic? It is ethical for a physician to associate professionally with chiropractors provided that the physician believes that such association is in the best interests of his or her patient. A physician may refer a patient for diagnostic or therapeutic services to a chiropractor permitted by law to furnish such services whenever the physician believes that this may benefit his or her patient. Physicians may also ethically teach in recognized schools of chiropractic. (V, VI)
What conditions do chiropractors treat?
Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic care is used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches.
How do I select a doctor of chiropractic?
You can locate a doctor of chiropractic (DC) by browsing the American Chiropractic Association's "Find A Doctor" page (http://www.acatoday.com/search/memsearch.cfm), searching the Yellow Pages, speaking with
friends, or contacting your local chamber of commerce. Because stringent educational and professional requirements are required for state licensure, the public is assured of academic competence and clinical experience – even with recent graduates.
Does chiropractic treatment require a referral from an MD?
No, a patient does not need referral by an MD before visiting a doctor of chiropractic. Chiropractors are first contact physicians, and are so defined in federal and state regulations. Following a consultation and examination, the doctor of chiropractic will arrive at a diagnosis under chiropractic care, or refer the patient to the appropriate health care provider.
Is chiropractic treatment safe?
Yes, chiropractic treatment is safe and effective. While any form of health treatment contains a degree of inherent risk, there is little danger in chiropractic care when administered by a licensed practioner. To assure competency, all states require that DCs be board-qualified, licensed, and regulated according to stringent criteria. Statistics show that patient risk is substantially lower for chiropractic because the use of prescription drugs and surgery are not used.
Is chiropractic treatment appropriate for children?
Yes, children can benefit from chiropractic care. Children are very physically active and experience many types of falls and blows from activities of daily living as well as from participating in sports. Injuries such as these may cause many symptoms including back and neck pain, stiffness, soreness or discomfort. Chiropractic care is always adapted to the individual patient. It is a highly skilled treatment, and in the case of children, very gentle.
Are chiropractors allowed to practice in hospitals or use medical outpatient facilities?
Do Chiropractors work in hospitals? Chiropractors are being recognized to admit and treat patients in hospitals and to use outpatient clinical facilities (such as labs, x-rays, etc.) for their non-hospitalized patients. Hospital privileges were first granted in 1983. Do insurance plans cover chiropractic?
The majority of all insured American workers have coverage for chiropractic services in their health care plans. For example, the federal government’s Office of Personnel Management offers chiropractic coverage for federal employees in both the Mail Handlers and BCBS benefit plans. In addition, there is a chiropractic benefit in Federal Workers’ Compensation, and chiropractic care is available to members of the armed forces at more than 40 military bases, and is available at nearly 30 veterans’ medical facilities.
What type of education and training do chiropractors have?
Chiropractors are educated as primary contact health care practitioners, with an emphasis on musculoskeletal diagnosis and treatment. Educational requirements for doctors of chiropractic are among the most stringent of any of the health care professions. The typical applicant at a chiropractic college has already acquired nearly four years of pre-medical undergraduate college education, including courses in biology, inorganic and organic chemistry, physics, psychology and related lab work. Once accepted into an accredited chiropractic college, the requirements become even more demanding — four to five academic years of professional study are the standard. Because of the hands-on nature of chiropractic, and the intricate adjusting techniques, a significant portion of time is spent in clinical training. In total, the chiropractic curriculum includes a minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical experience. The course of study is approved by an accrediting agency which is fully recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
How is a chiropractic adjustment performed?
Chiropractic adjustment or manipulation is a manual procedure that utilizes the highly refined skills developed during the intensive years of chiropractic education. The chiropractor typically uses his/her hands to manipulate the joints of the body, particularly the spine, in order to reduce pain, and restore or enhance joint function. Chiropractic manipulation is a highly controlled procedure that rarely causes discomfort. The chiropractor adapts the procedure to meet the specific needs of each patient. Patients often note positive changes in their symptoms immediately following treatment.
Is chiropractic treatment ongoing?
The hands-on nature of the chiropractic treatment is essentially what requires patients to visit the chiropractor a number of times. To be treated by a chiropractor, a patient needs to be in his or her office. In contrast, a course of treatment from medical doctors often involves a pre-established plan that is conducted at home (i.e. taking a course of antibiotics once a day for a couple of weeks). A chiropractor may provide acute, chronic, and/or preventative care thus making a certain number of visits sometimes necessary. Your doctor of chiropractic should tell you the extent of treatment recommended and how long you can expect it to last.
Why is there a popping sound when a joint is adjusted?
Adjustment of a joint may result in release of a gas bubble between the joints that makes a popping sound – it’s exactly the same as when you “crack” your knuckles. The noise is caused by the change of pressure within the joint that results in gas bubbles being released. There is no pain involved. Here is an aritcle I like on the subject by Dr. Brian Blower. What do you tell people who say, "I don't believe in chiropractic!"
I simply ask them, “Do you believe in ophthalmology? It is exactly the same question.”. I then elaborate on my response by suggesting that the patient who suffers from a vision problem would most likely seek the counsel of an eye specialist. That predisposes the patient to get the best possible care with the research base and the experience of the specialist. Likewise, a person with a musculoskeletal problem would be advised to seek the opinion of a chiropractor, whose education and expertise are most germane to the condition. Do you have to go to the chiropractor forever? No. But let me ask you a question. Once you begin something that is healthy, such as eating right, exercising, or brushing your teeth, when do you need to stop? Many people choose to continue with their chiropractic care in order to try to keep thier bodies working as well as they can. How far you take your chiropractic care is always up to you! | |
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