Frequently Asked Questions About Chiropractic
• I heard Chiropractors make you come back for the rest of your life!
I can obviously only speak for my clinic and how we run things. But, this is absolutely NOT true with our patients. Our clinic provides its patients with a treatment plan with a beginning and an end. You will be released from care when you have returned to “normal” or your care has peaked and you are getting no more benefit from our treatment (in which a referral to our medical side may be appropriate).
• Is Chiropractic expensive?
Chiropractic is significantly less expensive than medical care. This has been proved in the research many times. More good news is that we accept a majority of insurances that cover chiropractic care. You would only be responsible for co-payments and your deductible (if not met). If you are paying cash, we have tried to make your treatment very affordable. Please contact our office for specific questions.
• I heard Chiropractic is actually bad for your joints. Is this true?
No. There is no research or evidence suggesting this claim. In fact all evidence has shown that chiropractic treatment is healthy for a dysfunctional joint. Our joints literally receive their nutrition from diffusion, which only occurs with joint movement. When a joint becomes dysfunctional (or “stuck”) it loses its mobility and hence – its nutrition. A chiropractic adjustment puts movement back into specific “stuck” joints. In most cases, this eliminates any joint irritation and pain.
On the other hand, I personally don’t believe in large amounts of treatments over extended period of time with no pain or dysfunction in a joint. There are definitely side effects from too much of a good thing. There is also danger in having someone other than a professional with extensive training in joint manipulation treat your joints.
• Is it true that Chiropractors only “crack backs?”
No, as far as our clinic goes, our chiropractors also perform additional physiotherapies (heat, muscle stimulation, ultrasound, etc.), mobilization, muscle therapy, stretching, traction, rehabilitation, and prescription home exercises, stretches, and ergonomic changes. However adjustment are one of our most effective tools that we specialize in. Many people refer to an adjustment as having their “back cracked” due to the sound that sometimes accompanies the treatment. The purpose of an adjustment is to help the joints move correctly again – not just create noise in your back. To be clear – there is absolutely no literal cracking of bones or anything else during this treatment.
• Do I have to be “cracked?”
No. As stated above, there are many alternative options for you if you prefer not to be adjusted/ ”cracked.” No patient will be adjusted without written and verbal consent.
• Are adjustments painful?
Quite the contrary. Many patients feel instant relief immediately after their treatments. In fact, most look forward to their chiropractic treatments. In patients suffering from severe bouts of back or neck pain, some discomfort may be experienced for obvious reasons, however, for most patients this is not the case.
• Are Chiropractors real Doctors or just Quacks? Can you prescribe drugs?
Chiropractors are real doctors – just with a different emphasis. Chiropractors are physicians who have received a Doctorate degree following 8 years of college education and extensive training. We are trained as Primary Care Physicians which we share only with our Medical Doctors (MD) and Osteopathic Doctor (DO) colleagues. Our degree is called a Doctorate of Chiropractic (DC). Unlike a Medical Doctor (MD& DO), our training focuses on the body’s structural system and physical medicine rather than its organs and prescription medicine. For this reason we do not prescribe prescription drugs.
• Does Chiropractic have any scientific basis or research?
Yes – in fact probably a lot more than you realize. In the last 20 years chiropractic health care has established an impressive array of scientific research that demonstrates the efficacy, safety and cost effectiveness of chiropractic care. There are many further studies currently underway, and several have been performed by medical doctors and government researchers in both the U.S. and a number of other countries.
In fact, the chiropractic profession has accumulated a greater number of scientific trials on chiropractic than the medical profession has accumulated for many of the treatments rendered by medical doctors. According to David M. Edy, M.D., Ph.D., professor of health policy and management with Duke University, only 15 percent of all medical interventions are supported by solid scientific evidence. Paul G. Shekelle, M.D., M.P.H., of the RAND Corporation made the following statement on ABC's 20/20:
"There are considerably more randomized controlled trials which show benefit of this (chiropractic care) than there are for many, many other things which physicians and neurosurgeons do all the time."
• Can Chiropractic be dangerous to my body?
Chiropractic spinal adjustments are extremely safe when performed by chiropractors. In fact, chiropractic adjustments are among the safest treatments for most back and neck problems.
All doctors pay malpractice insurance. Their rates are based on the risk of the doctor’s specialty and their medical procedures performed. Specialists may pay well over $100,000/year. Insurance companies collectively recognize the conservative care provided by Chiropractors. Chiropractic physicians in Utah pay around $2000/year. This is the lowest rate of any health care professional.
According to a 1993 Ontario Ministry of Health commissioned study,
"There is no clinical or case-control study that demonstrates or even implies that chiropractic spinal manipulation is unsafe in the treatment of low-back pain."
On December 8, 1994, the US Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) released clinical practice guidelines for the management of acute low back pain. Their guidelines were developed after extensive study of methods used for acute low back pain. Their findings included:
• The risk of serious complications from lumbar spinal manipulation is rare;
• Conservative treatment such as spinal manipulation should be pursued in most cases before considering surgical intervention
The latest medical research regarding serious side effects from chiropractic treatment of the neck has shown that there is no excess risk from chiropractic care when directly compared with medical care. [Spine Feb. 2008] Either direction you go, the complication rate is astronomically low – in the realm of over 1,000,000 to 1. You have a better chance getting struck by lightning (heaven forbid).
• Chiropractic doesn’t work because I don’t believe in chiropractic.
As far as chiropractic is practiced at Advanced Spine and Rehabilitation, there is absolutely no “belief” system necessary to see it work. Our practice focuses on the correction of a body’s injured joints, muscles, and ligaments. All of our examinations and treatments are evidenced based. Saying you don’t “believe” in chiropractic is like saying “I don’t believe in dentistry.” Our chiropractic care is very simple and biomechanical in nature.
If you are skeptical about chiropractic care, we would be happy to answer any questions in a consultation.
If you have any additional questions or concerns, please take a pro-active step forward and schedule a consultation with Dr. Peterson or Dr. Christensen to discuss your case today! (435) 656-3266