WHAT IS A CHIROPRACTOR?

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The word chiropractic comes from the Greek words cheir (hands) and praxis (practice). As the name suggests, it is a hands-on therapy. It was chosen by the developer of chiropractic care, Daniel David Palmer. In 1895, D.D. Palmer performed a chiropractic adjustment on a partially deaf janitor, Harvey Lillard, who later reported that his hearing had improved due to the change.

D.D. Palmer opened the first chiropractic school two years later, and in the century since, chiropractic professionals have used spinal adjustments to help people prevent and cope with back pain, carpal tunnel, muscle strain, headaches and migraines, and a variety of other physical ailments. Millions of people benefit from the work of Dr. Palmer today.

The theory behind chiropractic care is that proper alignment of the body's musculoskeletal structure, particularly the spine, will enable the body to heal itself without surgery or medication.

Manipulation is used to restore mobility to joints restricted by tissue injury caused by a traumatic event, such as falling, or repetitive stress, such as sitting without proper back support.

 

WHAT DOES A CHIROPRACTOR DO?

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Chiropractors treat problems in people of all ages and can treat pain anywhere in the body: in the head and jaws, the shoulders, the elbows and wrists, the hips and pelvis, and the knees and ankles.

They receive special training in manual adjustment techniques which they then use to adjust your spine to eliminate misalignments that may be causing health problems and enable the body to heal itself without surgery or medication.

 

ARE CHIROPRACTORS SAFE?

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Chiropractic care is very safe. Research has clearly shown that the incidence of injury or unwanted effects using chiropractic care are minimal. Each and every condition is unique, and your chiropractor will evaluate you to determine what treatments are best suited for your particular care. Always feel free to communicate with your doctor any questions or concerns you have; they are there to help.

 

WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON CHIROPRACTIC TECHNIQUES?

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To manipulate the spine, the chiropractor applies a sudden, controlled amount of force to specific areas of the spine. This technique is not normally painful, but patients may hear popping noises as it is performed, or experience muscle soreness (similar to what they would experience after a workout) following their adjustment. 

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In certain situations, chiropractors may opt to use spinal mobilization, a less forceful form of spinal manipulation. This method uses fewer thrusts and more stretching, and it might include the use of an activator, a metal tool that applies direct force to a single vertebra.

 

CAN I GET CHIROPRACTIC CARE DURING PREGNANCY?

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Yes! There are no known contraindications to chiropractic care throughout pregnancy. All chiropractors are trained to work with women who are pregnant. Investing in the fertility and pregnancy wellness of women who are pregnant or trying to conceive is routine care for most chiropractors.

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Potential benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy include:

• Maintaining a healthier pregnancy

• Controlling symptoms of nausea

• Reducing the time of labor and delivery

• Relieving back, neck or joint pain

• Preventing a potential cesarean delivery

 

 

IS CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN?

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Chiropractic care for children is nothing new - it has been around for a long time and has proven to be effective in treating and addressing a variety of disorders specific to kids. It has been shown to improve the condition of colicky babies by correcting subluxation and therefore reducing the discomfort that causes crying and pain.

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Children with problems sleeping have found relief through chiropractic care, as have kids with gait problems and abnormal spinal curvature. In addition to treating the conditions above, chiropractic can help restore kids to health when they experience injuries.

 

WHAT TYPE OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING DO CHIROPRACTORS HAVE?

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Chiropractic education requires at least 4 years of professional study with a minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory, and clinical internship and includes a 4-year undergraduate/college prerequisite. The average DC program is equivalent in classroom hours to allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) medical schools.

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Students of chiropractic care must spend a minimum of at least 4,200 hours with their teacher, and a minimum of 1,000 hours of fully supervised clinical training with an instructor as they learn the appropriate diagnosis and treatment techniques to help heal your body and restore it to its natural, fully functioning state.

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DCs who wish to attain a license to practice in the U.S. must first pass rigorous national board exams to verify that they have the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively and safely treat patients. Individual state chiropractic boards, which approve and manage licensure, have additional requisites that must be met.

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Like their medical colleagues, chiropractors must renew their licenses on a regular basis. As a requirement for renewal, most states mandate that chiropractors take continuing education (CE) courses and earn a specific number of CE credits each year.