Myths and Misconceptions about Chiropractic Care

Spinal Adjustments are Dangerous
On the contrary! Chiropractic care has an excellent safety record, safer than back surgery, muscle relaxers, and even aspirin. Chiropractors enjoy one of the lowest malpractice insurance costs amongst health care professionals. One of the lowest malpractice insurance costs means one of the lowest incidents of malpractice lawsuits due to complications during treatment. Chiropractic is so safe, even newborns receive adjustments.

The "cracking" or "popping" noise associated with chiropractic adjustments is NOT the sound of bones breaking. It is the same sound that is made when someone "cracks" their knuckles. It is simply the formation of gas due to negative pressure in the air tight/fluid filled joint when the joint is separated. Many people associate the "popping" noise with a successful chiropractic adjustment and the lack there of as an unsuccessful one. This is also a myth as successful adjustments can be performed with the absence of that noise.

Medical Doctors Don't Like Chiropractors
The American Medical Association's opposition to chiropractic was at its strongest in the 1940s under the leadership of Morris Fishbein. Fishbein called chiropractors "rabid dogs" and referred to them as "playful and cute, but killers" He tried to portray chiropractors as members of an unscientific cult who cared about nothing but taking their patients' money. Up to the late 1970s and early 1980s, the medical establishment purposely conspired to try to destroy the profession of chiropractic. In fact, a landmark lawsuit in the Supreme Court of Illinois in the 1980s found that the American Medical Association was guilty of conspiracy and was ordered to pay restitution to the chiropractic profession.

In the 20 years since, the opinion of most medical doctors has changed: several major studies have shown the superiority of chiropractic in helping people with a host of conditions, and medical doctors developed a better understanding as to what chiropractors actually do. Many of our own patients have returned to their medical doctors and told them about the great results they experienced at Smith Chiropractic. Hospitals across the country now have chiropractors on staff, and many chiropractic offices have medical doctors on staff. Chiropractors and medical doctors are now much more comfortable working together in cases where medical care is necessary as an adjunct to chiropractic care.

Chiropractic medicine is too expensive and it is not covered by health insurance
Actually, studies that have proven the scientific foundation of chiropractic medicine have also proven the cost-effectiveness of the practice. Particularly in the area of low back pain and injuries, chiropractic medicine has been shown to reduce overall costs of treatment, and prevention of relapse.

Most major insurance plans have also accepted chiropractic medicine as a mainstream health care choice for primary care and treatment. Because chiropractic medicine is now routinely covered by insurance, under most insurance plans a client no longer needs to first obtain a referral from a medical doctor before seeking chiropractic care. Check your own health insurance policy and you are likely to be pleasantly surprised that your chiropractic health care is a permitted expense.

These are three of the most common medical myths regarding chiropractic care that are simply untrue. There are other myths and fallacies about chiropractic medicine and there are still people who do not understand the truth of the value of chiropractic medicine. But as the research and studies continue, as insurance companies and other doctors validate chiropractic and especially as patients continue to benefit from this holistic type of health care, these myths and others are being proved false. Chiropractic medicine has truly become an accepted mainstream arm of health care.

There is no Scientific Research to Back up Chiropractic medicine
Unfortunately, this myth is believed by a lot of people. The truth is, however, that chiropractic is supported by empirical data that proves it is beneficial in reducing injuries, surgeries and overall medical costs for a growing abundance of people.

Chiropractors are very careful to document and research their standards in treatment in order to continue to advance the field. Independent research is very supportive of chiropractic medicine. Chiropractic medicine has progressively accumulated more and more scientific research supporting its' effectiveness and its' safety.

Chiropractic Doctors Lack Education or Chiropractors are not Real Doctors
Believe it or not, chiropractors go through the same undergraduate studies that medical doctors go through. After undergraduate studies have been completed, the future chiropractors go to a specialized chiropractic college while the future medical doctors go to a specialized medical school. Besides the rigorous classroom schedule, chiropractors have to log 900 hours of clinical time before they can practice on their own, just like a medical doctor has to complete a residency.

A chiropractic college grants a D.C. or Doctorate of Chiropractic degree. Chiropractors are licensed as health care providers in every U.S. state and dozens of countries around the world. While the competition for acceptance in chiropractic school is not as fierce as medical school, the chiropractic and medical school curricula are extremely rigorous and virtually identical. As part of their education, chiropractic students also complete a residency working with real patients in a clinical setting, supervised by licensed doctors of chiropractic. Once chiropractic students graduate, they have to pass four sets of national board exams as well as state board exams in the states where they want to practice.

Just like medical doctors, chiropractors are professionals that are subject to the same type of testing procedures, licensing and monitoring by state and national peer-reviewed boards. Federal and state programs, such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Workers' Compensations programs cover chiropractic care, and all federal agencies accept sick-leave certificates signed by doctors of chiropractic.

The biggest difference between chiropractors and medical doctors lies not in their level of education, but in their preferred method of caring for people. Medical doctors are trained in the use of medicines (chemicals that affect your internal biochemistry) and surgery. Consequently, if you have a chemical problem, such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, or an infection, medical doctors can be very helpful. However, if your problem is that your spine is mis-aligned or you have soft tissue damage causing pain, there is no chemical in existence that can fix it. You need a physical solution to correct a physical problem. That is where chiropractic really shines. Chiropractors provide physical solutions -- adjustments, exercises, stretches, muscle therapy -- to help the body heal from conditions that are physical in origin, such as back pain, muscle spasms, headaches, and poor posture.

You'll Have to Continue Chiropractic Care for the Rest of Your Life
This is probably the biggest misconception surrounding chiropractors today. Chiropractic treatment is generally divided into 3 stages acute care, corrective care and maintenance care. It is entirely up to the patient how far they would like to take their treatment. Acute care focuses on pain reduction, corrective care addresses fixing structural and biomechanical dysfunction and maintenance care acts as a preventative measure. It is this last stage that has been misconstrued by many to mean chiropractic care requires a lifetime commitment.

The goal of maintenance care is to prevent future recurrences and the development of new problems. It can be compared to exercise, yearly dental check-ups or a healthy diet. It is not necessary but it helps maintain optimum health. For this reason, after the conclusion of the acute and corrective stages of care, patients are given the OPTION to continue with maintenance care. A lifetime commitment is not necessary to reduce pain and to fix structural and biomechanical problems. Patients who make a lifetime commitment do so by choice because they realize the benefits of regular chiropractic treatment.

Spinal Adjustments Hurt
As a general rule, adjustments are not painful and often times patients find spinal and extremity manipulation to be quite pleasant. There are those times when patients present with acute conditions when there is inflammation and spasms.

Adjustments to those inflamed joints may at times cause some discomfort. However, the ability and course of action taken by the doctor of chiropractic can minimize these occurrences which are normally gone immediately following an adjustment or shortly there after. Sometimes it is paramount that your Chiropractor work with your Medical Doctor in the early stages of acute care. This may be necessary due to underlying circumstances. Your Chiropractor will do this to ensure the best possible treatment for the patient during the early phases of care. If necessary, cooperation will be maintained throughout the entire course of treatment.

You have to take your clothes off for the doctor
Any examination we perform is done with the patient fully clothed. AT NO TIME will you have to disrobe for the doctor.

I'm too old (or young) for Chiropractic to help
Significant spinal trauma can occur at ANY age, and especially during the birth process. Naturally, chiropractic adjusting procedures are modified for the specific person's condition and age.

Chiropractic has been shown to be helpful with most 'normal' childhood health problems including scoliosis, and is effective in reducing many causes of arthritis!

Chiropractors are for bad backs.
Chiropractic is based on the scientific fact that your body is self-healing.

All body functions are controlled by the brain, spinal cord and the nerves of your body. If the cause of your condition is due to an irritation or pressure on a nerve, chiropractors are the ONLY doctors trained to remove this pressure. Since the problem commonly occurs in the spine, chiropractic physicians have often been mistaken as 'back doctors'.

Chiropractic adjustments will cause you to have a stroke.
This myth is not only false; it creates unnecessary fear and reluctance to try chiropractic health care.

The facts about strokes are very clear and quite surprising: your chances of having a stroke from chiropractic care are about the same as your chances of being hit by lightning.

In fact, your risk of having a stroke from the daily aspirin you may be taking to prevent a heart attack is about 70,000 times greater than your risk of having a stroke from a chiropractic adjustment. You are 37,000 times more likely to have a stroke from no known reason at all than you are from chiropractic health care. Do your body a favor and don’t buy into to this myth. There is no science to back it up.