Chiropractors have been around for more than 120 years. However, despite the long-term practice of the discipline, a lot of people can’t separate myths from facts about chiropractic care, and many people in pain therefore don’t avail themselves of its benefits. Brian Schuessler, DC and his team at Pro-Active Medical Center are dedicated to your health and well-being. They understand that their first step in helping you is to separate fact from fiction about the work they do. Here are six myths that we’ll debunk.
Myth 1: Chiropractors don’t have extensive training.
Fact: Although chiropractors are not medical doctors, they typically attend four years of graduate school to learn to heal bone, nerve, ligament, and muscle disorders. Like so many other health professionals, they take classes in biology, physiology, anatomy, and pathology. There’s also lab work and clinical training. In the end, successful students receive a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree.
Myth 2: Chiropractors do not have to be licensed.
Fact: Chiropractors must pass a four-part test given by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners to receive a license to practice, and some states require chiropractors to take additional tests. Generally, chiropractors must also take continuing medical education class to keep their licenses up to date.
Myth 3: Chiropractors only work on the spine.
Fact: Although most chiropractic care is focused on spinal manipulations, DCs also adjust your neck and lower back; test and analyze your posture; and perform other services including helping you improve your food and exercise choices.
Pro-active Medical Center also provides massage, low-level laser therapy, physical therapy, and custom orthotics.
Myth 4: Chiropractic manipulations are just fancy massages.
Fact: Joint manipulations are not massages but stretches, sustained pressure, and gentle thrusts on specific places in your body. They do focus primarily on the spine, but they help other places as well. The purpose is to improve overall function and motion.
Myth 5: Chiropractic is a niche treatment that only a few people seek.
Fact: The American Chiropractic Association says that last year three in four people saw a chiropractor to treat pain, and 77% of those said the care was “very effective.” The association reports that when it comes to treating lower back pain, chiropractors are the highest-rated among healthcare practitioners, ranking above primary care physicians, physical therapists, and other medical specialists like neurosurgeons and orthopaedic surgeons.
Myth 6: Chiropractic is your last resort for relieving back pain.
Fact: Chiropractic is not a last resort; many professionals believe that visiting a chiropractor should be your first step for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of spinal disorders and back pain. Chiropractic care can eliminate the need for pain medications like opioids, as well as for surgery. An article in the Journal of the America Medical Association said that a systematic review of 26 clinical trials found that “spinal manipulative therapy was associated with statistically significant benefits in both pain and function …”
Do you suffer from back and neck pain? Pro-Active Medical Center can help. Call us at 850-347-0171, or book an appointment online.
