Common Chiropractic Myths

Dr. Chelsea Bachelor

​There are many misunderstandings and half-truths regarding chiropractic and what chiropractors actually do.
This week I came across a “Myth List”, organized by ChiroHealthUSA, and it makes some great points, but I’d like to expand on them a bit.
Hopefully this sheds some light and possibly answers a few questions!
 
Myth #5
Chiropractors are not real doctors

• Chiropractors are recognized as doctors and have to go through years of vigorous schooling, training, and board certifications. A large difference between a doctor of medicine and a doctor of chiropractic is the area of expertise. Chiropractic is a drug-free style of healthcare; therefore our training focuses on the nerve system and movement of the spine versus subjects such as pharmacology.

Myth #4
Chiropractic is too expensive

• The focus main advantage of chiropractic care is that it functions as a proactive approach rather than reactive. Similar to exercising and eating right, making sure that the spine is free of interference will allow for a healthier overall lifestyle.
• Many common illnesses today are characterized as preventable, lifestyle diseases - meaning if we spent more time investing in our health versus waiting for something to go wrong we could avoid them all together.
• Less time in the doctor’s office means more time out and enjoying life!
• But back to the point: The average cost per visit to the chiropractor can vary by region. Here in Northern Michigan, the cost is closer to about $40 per visit. Compare this to a typical visit to a primary care physician consisting of approximately 15 minutes with the doctor and costing as much as $104.

Myth #3
Chiropractors only treat back pain

• Chiropractic’s primary focus is the alignment of your spinal bones, but that’s not necessarily because we are addressing pain. Together, your brain and spinal cord make up your nerve system. From scratching your nose to digesting your lunch, you can thank your nerve system for coordinating it all! In fact, this system is so important that it is the only one that is completely protected by bones. These bones articulate with each other in such a way that allows us to move, but can also put pressure on the nerves when there is a misalignment.
• If there is interference in this network, the functioning of the body is repressed. A problem with function can manifest in many ways – aches and pains, headaches, indigestion, allergies, fatigue, decreased immunity etc. If your nerve system influences it, then it can be affected.
• A chiropractor finds and gently removes this interference, restoring the vital communication between body and brain.

Myth #2
Chiropractic adjustments hurt

• Honestly I feel that ChiroHealthUSA’s explanation of this is just about perfect for the great majority of people. It is common for someone to walk in with a headache and leave feeling clear-headed because removing pressure or strain on your nerves allows the body to heal as it’s designed too.
• In certain circumstances, such as a healing disc injury or strain, reintroducing motion into the joint can have some mild discomfort. However, these gentle movements accelerate healing by allowing fresh nutrients and blood to enter and repair the injured tissues.
• In all cases, communication between patient and doctor is fundamental!

Myth #1
Chiropractic won’t work for me

• Referring back to Myth 2, 3 and 4 - can you think of anyone who wouldn’t be better off without pressure on the system controlling every function in his or her body??

 
Special thanks to ChiroHealthUSA for creating this myth list!

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