What do I need to see a chiropractor for if I have a primary physician? I already take medicine for my pain management. I’m scared of receiving the adjustments… will it resemble a wrestling smackdown? Enough! Let us set the record straight about chiropractic.
Sometimes life can be unpredictable. You wake up one day with terrible neck pain. You call your primary care physician for advice and medication. This is what you have always done with your health and you don’t see any reason to try a different approach. But there is such a thing as preventative medicine. A chiropractor can offer adjustments and muscle therapy that will improve spinal alignment and improve your body mechanics. This helps stop symptoms before they even develop. Think of your vehicle; it needs gas on a continual basis or it will stop working on you!
Chiropractic has become a very advanced field in the realm of medicine. But there are still a lot of myths surrounding what exactly it entails. Let us talk about some common myths and why they are unwarranted…
Myth #1 – Chiropractors are not real, legit doctors
Chiropractic and medical school both have a rigorous curriculum that covers a broad subject range. The only difference is that chiropractors spend more hours in the classroom and medical doctors spend more time in clinical. They both complete a residency where they are able to care for patients in a clinical setting, while under the supervision of licensed doctors. When a chiropractor graduates from college they are awarded a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree. Like medical doctors, they then have to pass national board exams to obtain a license to practice their specialty. That license is also subject to monitoring by state and national boards and malpractice can cause them to be stripped of it. Many private and federal/state insurance allow benefits for chiropractic care. Insurance companies know that it is cheaper for them in the long run if they encourage their clients to undergo preventative care.
The biggest difference between a chiropractor and a medical doctor is their preferred method of delivering care. A medical doctor is trained to prescribe medication and surgery. This can be beneficial for chemical problems such as diabetes or hypothyroidism. But if the problem is mechanical, like a misaligned spine or soft tissue damage that’s causing you nerve pain, then no amount of medicine is going to improve the issue. Chiropractors improve body mechanics via adjustments, exercises, stretching, and muscle therapy. They help conditions that are physical in origin, such as poor posture, that can affect how many body systems operate. This can lead to prevention of an even bigger problem down the road.
Myth #2 – Medical doctors don’t respect the chiropractic profession
Chiropractic came into a profession in September of 1895. It was thought to have come from mystical concepts and therefore many people wrote it off as “quackery”. In the year 1906, Chiropractors were being jailed for not complying with the medical practice act. They were practicing without a license because no such licensing bureau existed yet.
In modern times, where information is more easily shared, there has been an increase in holistic and alternative means of medicine. Medical doctors work with alternative medicine providers as a comprehensive approach to patient care. There are more studies on how these therapies – chiropractic, massage, acupuncture, etc. – have improved the lives of people with acute and chronic conditions. Many hospitals now employ chiropractors and insurance companies are picking up the tab for services.
Myth #3 – Once you start going to a chiropractor, you have to keep going forever!
Many people are scared or skeptical before going to a chiropractor. But once you have your first adjustment, your body will feel and operate so much differently. The first time I got adjusted I felt like the blood was flowing through my body much more efficiently and I sat up straighter. I felt like I didn’t have to make an appointment after that – after all I felt great! But eventually, with my bad posture and affinity for playing sports, my body was going to go right back where I started. Going to a chiropractor is much like visiting your eye doctor, getting exercise, or eating healthy – As long as you keep doing it, you’ll reap the benefits.
It is important to note that as you do normal physical activity – walk, drive, sit, lift, sleep, etc. – your spine is experiencing normal wear and tear. If you get yourself on a good maintenance schedule, recommended by your chiropractor, then you can feel and move better throughout your lifetime.
We hope this blog was helpful in explaining more about chiropractic and what is fact versus fiction. Have questions or interested in seeing a chiropractor? Please give our Santa Clara office a call at [th_phone] to schedule your appointment. We thank you sincerely for choosing Restoring Health & Wellness Center!
