There are many chiropractic myths regarding chiropractors. To be honest – most of those myths are our own fault. When you mention “chiropractor” you can get a mix of raving fans to downright quackery.
It makes sense: traditional, old-school chiropractic is as much an art as it is a science. There are many niches in chiropractic yet we all share the same title.
The chiropractic profession is, for the most part, trying to move forward and integrate with the medical system to best serve our patients!
A modern, forward-thinking chiropractor doesn’t simply practice “chiropractic”.
A chiropractor is commonly known for the adjustment but this is only one treatment tool. A progressive chiropractor has many tools in the “toolbelt”. You can’t hammer in a screw – you must choose the right treatment tool for the job – no one size fits all treatments!
Here are three common chiropractic myths set straight!
#1. I have to go every week for the rest of my life
Stereotypes exist for a reason.
You should avoid any chiropractor who pressures you to purchase a long-term care package. Treatment packages are often sold with fear-based tactics such as, “your spine is out of alignment,” “you have arthritis and degeneration,” and “we need to restore your curve.”
Brinjikji et al demonstrated very little correlation between structural findings and low back pain.
Don’t get me wrong, performing regular maintenance on your body is crucial, but that doesn’t mean you need to rely on a chiropractor to adjust you weekly! Self-care is important and should include specific biomechanical home exercises, foam rolling, nutritional habits, and optimal lifestyle choices. Receiving a hands-on reset through chiropractic care can absolutely be beneficial, but should not be depended upon.
You are the pilot, we can be the co-pilot to help you with the navigation, but ultimately you are flying the plane. Teaching someone how to be self-sufficient by managing their own problems is monumental compared to relying on someone’s “magic” hands.
#2: Chiropractic Physicians Only Treat Back Pain
Though most widely known for treating spinal disorders, chiropractic services are used to resolve or manage a variety of musculoskeleteal conditions for more than 35 million Americans annually, according to the ACA.
Depending on the practitioner’s specialty, chiropractors can successfully treat a variety of ailments, including but not limited to: jaw dysfunction, headache, nutritional deficiencies, some digestive disorders, and other muscle, joint, tendon, and ligament issues of the body.
If a chiropractor claims to “fix” all of those issues just by “aligning the spine,” run… fast.
A great chiropractor will always perform a thorough history and examination to understand what your condition is actually costing you — concerning function and lifestyle — and how to achieve a solution.
When an evidence-based chiropractor determines it’s out of their scope to treat an impairment effectively, they will refer you to the appropriate trusted professional.
#3. Chiropractic Physicians are Mistrusted by Other Doctors
Misconceptions about how other medical doctors view chiropractic physicians were formed mostly in the mid-20th century and are no longer prevalent. Today, support for chiropractic medicine within the medical community continues to grow.
Academic studies showing the effectiveness of chiropractic care have been published in major medical journals, including a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. In February 2017, the American College of Physicians also updated their guidelines to suggest those with low back pain use various conservative, non-invasive therapies such as spinal manipulation before resorting to pharmaceuticals.
Today, the effectiveness of chiropractic therapy is largely accepted by medical doctors, and many hospitals have chiropractic physicians on staff. At Upstate Spine & Sport, medical referrals are one of the most common sources of new patients for both chiropractic physical medicine and acupuncture!
David Jolson, DC
Upstate Spine & Sport
Team Chiropractor: Greenville Triumph | PGA Tour | Greenville Drive | Hincapie Racing Team
Please reach out to us with any questions, we are a unique interdisciplinary clinic in Greenville, SC. We take a lot of pride in being hybrid clinicians, combining principles from many professions to get you back to what you love as quickly as possible!
