Patients often come to me with some rather interesting stories that they have heard from a “friend of a friend” about chiropractors. These stories almost always involve something terrible with regards to chiropractic. So today, I’ve decided to discuss some of the most common myths that I hear and and address the concerns related to these misconceptions.
Myth #1 : Chiropractic care is painful.
Possibly the most common question I get from patients before starting treatment is “will it hurt?” To answer simply no, the adjustment itself should not be painful. Most people notice relief immediately following an adjustment. However, if a patient is in severe pain, it might be uncomfortable for the chiropractor to put their hands in areas that are already swollen and inflamed, but the adjustment should not cause pain. In some cases, about 10% of the time, a patient might experience soreness after their first adjustment, however subsequent adjustments will not result in the same discomfort. This is usually compared to going to the gym to workout for the first time in a few years. So, in the vast majority of cases, chiropractic is not painful, and is usually relieving.
Myth #2: Chiropractors are not well educated.
Another common question I get is “how long did it take you to become a chiropractor?” I’m surprised by the number of people who think that someone can take a weekend class, and then call themselves a chiropractor. Before even beginning chiropractic school, a prospective student must complete a minimum of 90 hours of undergraduate work in classes such biology, chemistry, and physics. Most chiropractors have an undergraduate degree in one of these fields. Chiropractic school is about three and a half years and involves 10 trimesters, each with over 30 hours of course work. The first year is very similar to the first year of medical school and involves classes in anatomy, physiology and biochemistry. The second year involves courses in orthopedics, neurology and x-ray. The final year is a year long internship in which the chiropractic student treats patients under the watch of experienced chiropractors. For more information about chiropractic school and its comparison to medical school, see the following link:
http://www.yourmedicaldetective.com/drgrisanti/mddc.htm
Myth #3: Chiropractic is not scientific.
In recent years there has been an increase in the amount of research done with regards to chiropractic care. This research has shown that chiropractic care is effective in the treatment of neck pain, lower back pain and headaches. Other studies have shown that patients are less likely to have surgery if they consult with a chiropractor before seeing an M.D., and that chiropractic care is more effective than prescription drugs for neck and lower back pain. For more information on chiropractic research, visit the site below:
http://www.acatoday.org/level3_css.cfm?T1ID=13&T2ID=61&T3ID=150
I hope this blog has been helpful in disproving many of the common misconceptions about chiropractic. If you have any other questions, feel free to leave them in the comment section and we will be sure to address them.