In the same day, you might hear one person praising chiropractic for healing his back pain and another person denouncing it as a completely pseudoscientific field. Chiropractic can be a polarizing subset of healthcare, despite its ubiquity in the United States. Should you consider seeing a chiropractor? That question is far too complex for one article to answer. But here are five things you probably didn’t know — but ought to know — about chiropractic before making your decision:
- Chiropractic Is a Diverse Field
Not all chiropractic care is the same. Some chiropractors hold to the origins of the practice, which claim that the majority of health problems are caused by subluxations in the spine, and therefore manual adjustments can do everything from cure allergies to reverse organ failure. But many use chiropractic techniques in a more limited, evidence-supported way to address musculoskeletal problems that cause pain. It’s worth doing some research to make sure you’re working with a chiropractor who uses a treatment approach you respect.
- Chiropractors Are Doctors
This is one question many people unsure about the value of chiropractic ask: Is a chiropractor a doctor? The answer is yes. Chiropractors attend four years of chiropractic school after receiving their bachelor’s degrees, just as medical doctors do, and receive the degree Doctor of Chiropractic. They also must be licensed through a system similar to traditional medical care.
- Chiropractic Care Can Be Preventive
Many people visit a chiropractor for the first time in order to deal with the pain of a specific injury or because they’ve had some physical trauma (such as a car accident). But people who are hard on their bodies, in particular, often see chiropractors for regular adjustments. Athletes, for example, often visit sports chiropractors even when they aren’t dealing with an acute injury.
- Chiropractic Is More Focused Than Massage
Many people wonder whether a massage or chiropractor will do more to alleviate their pain, with some seeing them as virtually identical therapies. But chiropractic techniques are much more advanced, based on more specific knowledge of anatomy and physiology, and more focused on correcting alignment. Massage deals more narrowly with muscular problems.
- Chiropractic Techniques Aren’t Painful
Some patients fear that the popping or cracking noise associated with chiropractic means that the method is a forceful or painful one. But these popping noises are merely caused by gas bubbles being released in the joints as they’re manipulated; normally no pain is associated with the sound.
Have you ever visited a local chiropractor? What was your experience? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
