Chiropractic care is a branch of alternative medicine that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of issues within the musculoskeletal system — concentrating heavily on the spine. People often seek chiropractic treatment to alleviate back and neck pain as well as manage certain musculoskeletal conditions like scoliosis.
Although chiropractic care has been long practiced, there are still misconceptions that lead to skepticism and apprehension about seeking this type of treatment. To shed light on these, we’re addressing some of the more common myths.
Myth No. 1: Chiropractic care is not scientifically proven.
One prominent misconception is that chiropractic care lacks scientific evidence to prove that it works. Chiropractic medicine is grounded in the principles of biology, anatomy, physiology, and neurology, making it a scientifically-informed practice.
Research studies have explored the effects of chiropractic treatment on various health conditions — including back and neck pain — often yielding positive outcomes.
When comparing treatment for low back pain, one study concluded that patients receiving spinal manipulation from chiropractic care (versus analgesic drugs prescribed by a medical doctor) reported significantly greater reductions in pain and disability after four weeks.
Research regarding musculoskeletal conditions is constantly evolving, and we know much more about effective treatments for those conditions than we did even 15 years ago. Although not all questions have been answered, it is clear based on the scientific evidence published by medical doctors, physical therapists, chiropractors, and research scientists, that spinal manipulation can be a safe and effective treatment for many musculoskeletal ailments.
Myth No. 2: Chiropractors are not real doctors.
Another common belief is that chiropractors are not legitimate healthcare professionals, as they have historically not been integrated into mainstream healthcare infrastructures, including hospitals and other out-patient clinics. However, this trend is slowly but steadily changing. Chiropractors are now integrated into the Veterans Administration healthcare system, many private hospital systems, professional sports teams, fitness and performance centers, and other locations.
Chiropractors also undergo extensive education and training before earning their degrees. In most countries, chiropractic programs are accredited and regulated, ensuring that practitioners meet specific standards.
To practice chiropractic care in the U.S., a practitioner must hold a bachelor’s degree, graduate from an accredited chiropractic program, pass all four parts of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners exams, and apply for state licensure. Furthermore, all active practitioners must hold basic first aid and CPR certifications and may need to pass additional board exams based on their state and the treatment modalities they practice.
Chiropractors are required to complete rigorous coursework, including classes in anatomy, physiology, pathology, neurology, radiology, and other clinical subjects, enabling them to diagnose and treat patients holistically. All chiropractic programs in the U.S. involve three and a half years of schooling. Upon graduation, chiropractic students will obtain the degree of Doctor of Chiropractic. This grants them “portal of entry” physician status in most states, which allows chiropractors to diagnose and treat without a referral from another physician. Depending on the specific chiropractic college, students will typically spend their last 12 to 15 months of school treating patients under the supervision of a licensed chiropractor.
Myth No. 3: Chiropractic care only treats back pain.
Because of the emphasis on the spine, it is often assumed that chiropractic care is limited to the treatment of back pain. However, chiropractors should take a holistic approach that considers the entire musculoskeletal system.
Back pain is a common condition treated by chiropractors, yet they can also address a wide range of other health issues, including headaches, joint pain, sports injuries, and even certain neurological disorders including cervical and lumbar disc herniations and fibromyalgia.
Chiropractors are equipped to address these issues because of their extensive academic coursework in clinical anatomy, physiology, and neuroscience, along with their physical examination skills to evaluate nervous system function, muscle strength, reflexes, and sensory perception. Chiropractors also hold a unique perspective that can provide patients with insight and treatments they likely would not otherwise receive in the standard medical model.
In addition to addressing specific health concerns, chiropractic care can enhance overall well-being by improving spinal alignment and promoting optimal nervous system function. When the spine is aligned, it allows the body to use the least amount of effort possible to handle the stresses of everyday life. With proper posture we can decrease stress on muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones, and nerves that would otherwise become fatigued and then sensitive to pain or injury. This decreased stress allows the body’s natural healing response to function at a higher level.
Myth No. 4: Chiropractic care is only for adults.
Many people are unaware of the benefits that pediatric patients receive from chiropractic therapies. Many also do not realize that specific chiropractic techniques have been developed to help pediatric patients. These techniques and treatments very rarely involve manipulations that produce an audible “crack” or “pop,” which is typically associated with chiropractic treatment.
Some common conditions that have been treated effectively with chiropractic care in pediatric patients include scoliosis, back pain, asthma, headache, infantile colic, nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting), and respiratory disease. According to a 2020 study, adverse events were exceedingly rare in pediatric patients seeking chiropractic care.
Chiropractors can also help educate their child patients on how to take good care of their posture through kid-friendly exercises. Improving posture, even as a child, can help the body decrease stress on various tissues. Stressed tissues become more and more sensitive to pain the longer the stress is present, which means influencing a child’s posture can lead to decreased risk of musculoskeletal pain and injury as they grow. Some examples of exercises for children that a chiropractor may recommend include breathing drills, stretches, and bodyweight movements.
Myth No. 5: Chiropractic care involves too many appointments.
People often believe seeking chiropractic treatment is going to fill their calendar up with appointments.
Chiropractors typically group patients into different categories of varying complexity. Least complex patients require less visits and more complex patients require more frequent visits.
Factors considered when determining patient complexity include their number of complaints, symptom frequency and duration, symptom severity, prior treatment and progress, and the presence or absence of neurological symptoms.
Chiropractors typically see a patient more frequently in the beginning of their chiropractic care journey. The goal is to get all patients to a place where they are not only pain-free but functioning at a level that allows them to engage in any activity that they want. To do this, we focus a lot of our attention on how a person moves to correct any underlying poor movement patterns that led them to develop this pain. When we see movement patterns change, we know we are making lasting changes to the patient’s body that will help keep them pain free in the future.
However, this can take some time to address and see differences, which is why chiropractic treatment plans typically last for a minimum of six months. Having professional guidance for this extended period helps allow patients to fully reach goals of living pain-free.
