Eye-Opening Chiropractic Facts And Myths
Are you nervous about seeking chiropractic care? You’re not alone!
While close to 27 million people seek chiropractic treatment every year, many more continue to suffer in silence. The primary reason? Most people don’t how to sort through the many chiropractic facts and myths that they hear.
We’re here today to clear up the confusion and give you the confidence you need to decide whether chiropractic care is right for you. Let’s get started!
Myth #1: Chiropractic Treatment is Dangerous
One of the most common, and most scary, myths is that chiropractic treatment is dangerous. The crunching and popping might seem disconcerting. However, the chances of an adjustment resulting in a serious medical problem is minuscule.
Chiropractic care is far more natural and less invasive than traditional medical treatment. Traditional pain management efforts like drugs, steroids, and surgical intervention all come with a much higher risk of side effects.
in fact Chiropractic malpractice insurance for most experienced chiropractors runs around $2500 per year. This is less than 1/4 of the typical family Medical Doctor's malpractice insurance. Why? Because insurance companies know that Chiropractors have significantly fewer claims. It's simply safer.
Myth #2: Medical Professionals Don’t Trust Chiropractic Medicine
There’s also a common misconception that traditional medical doctors don’t care for chiropractors and don’t like their methods. While this may have been the case back in the 1940s, it’s certainly not true today.
In recent years, the medical community has begun to embrace chiropractic care. In fact, a 2017 study by the American Medical Association (AMA) touted the benefits of chiropractic spinal manipulation for the relief of low back pain.
That same year, updated guidelines issued by the American College of Physicians recommended non-invasive treatments like spinal manipulation as a first line of defense against low back pain.
Now, chiropractic care is so accepted that it’s common to find chiropractic physicians on staff at many hospitals.
Myth #3: Chiropractic Care is Only for Back Pain
While chiropractic care is a well-known treatment for back pain. However, it can also treat a huge array of additional ailments including:
- Auto accident injuries
- Joint Pain like (Shoulder, Hip or Knee) pain
- Body-wide pain
- Herniated discs
- Scoliosis and Osteoporosis
- Tennis elbow
- Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)
- Fibromyalgia
- Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- TMJ
Chiropractic adjustment can also help treat asthma and allergies. It also helps to relieve stress and improve your overall wellbeing. Chiropractic has also been studied to improve your immune system.
Myth #4: Chiropractors Are Less Educated Than “Real” Doctors
Some people think that chiropractic physicians are less educated than traditional medical doctors. This is also not true.
All chiropractic physicians practicing in the United States must have earned their Doctor of Chiropractic degree (DC) and passed state licensing boards.
To get your Doctor of Chiropractor degree, you must first complete your four year Bachelors Degree. Then you must complete four years of Chiropractic education beyond your undergraduate degree. This is very similar to the schooling required for traditional medical doctors. in fact by the time their done the typical Doctor of Chiropractic will have more hours of education than Medical Doctors. During the course of their studies, chiropractic physicians will learn:
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Pharmacology
- Pathology
- Neurology.
They’ll also need to complete a year of clinical internships and rotations and pass four national board exams. They must also keep up with continuing education requirements in order to maintain their licenses.
When it comes down to it, the main difference between and chiropractor and a traditional medical doctor is the methods they use to treat ailments, rather than the education they’ve received.
Myth #5: Once You Start Seeing a Chiropractor, You Have to Go for Life
The thought that you’ll need to continue chiropractic care for your entire life is only partially true. While some people do find relief from short-term chiropractic care, long-term maintenance of spinal health is certainly beneficial.
Rather than thinking about chiropractic care as a treatment for what ails, you, it’s much smarter to think of it as a way to keep yourself healthy. Compare your chiropractic visits to your regular visits to the dentist, workouts at the gym, or healthy meal prep. Once you experience how much better you feel after chiropractic treatment, you’ll want to continue for the long term, but you certainly don’t have to.
Myth #6: Chiropractic Care is Only for Adults
While some uninformed people may think that chiropractic care is unnecessary or unsafe for children, it can actually help with a variety of conditions. Since it’s so non-invasive, chiropractic treatment is an ideal first line of treatment for children and teens.
Chiropractic adjustments can also be used as a preventative care method. Posture analysis and adjustment can help address and avoid potential problems with energy issues, breathing, sleeping, and stress. By encouraging neuroplasticity, chiropractic care can also help prevent Sensory Integration Disorder and ADHD.
Traditional physicians and chiropractic physicians will often work together to create an integrated treatment plan that gives your child the best treatment possible.
Myth #7: Chiropractic Adjustments Are Painful
While it’s totally understandable to think that a chiropractic adjustment is going to hurt, that’s not the case at all! You’re actually likely to feel a huge sense of relief right away. Your chiropractor has a deep understanding of the skeletal and muscular system, and the adjustments he or she makes will alleviate your pain and get you comfortable with moving again.
Myth #8: Visiting a Chiropractor is Expensive
Not only is chiropractic treatment not overly expensive, it’s actually almost always less expensive than visiting a traditional medical doctor. This is especially true when you add up the costs of medications, surgery, and physical therapy. Many patients find that chiropractic care is an effective, healthy, inexpensive, and natural alternative.
Put the Chiropractic Facts and Myths to Rest: Experience It for Yourself!
Now that you have a clear understanding of the most common chiropractic facts and myths, it’s time to experience the relief for yourself. Check out our new patient online offer, then give us a call at (256) 830-0000 or Toll Free at 1-800-GoChiro (1-800-462-4476) to schedule your appointment at any of the six Millar Chiropractic Clinics.
We’ll take the time to answer all of your questions and make sure you’re completely comfortable before you start treatment. Don’t suffer in silence any longer. Contact us today!
