Chiro 101: Chiropractic Facts And Myths

Every year, approximately 27 million Americans receive treatment from a chiropractor.

Are you interested in giving chiropractic adjustments a try? Or, are you still on the fence about these techniques?

Before you decide that chiropractic care is not right for you, it's important to make sure you're well-versed on chiropractic facts.

There's a lot of misinformation out there regarding chiropractors and chiropractic treatments, and we're here to set the record straight. Read on to have some common chiropractor myths debunked.

Anyone Can Crack Your Back -- You Don't Need to Pay a Chiropractor

When you have someone who's not a chiropractor crack your back, they're just aimlessly applying pressure until they hear a pop. When you have a chiropractor adjust you, though, they know exactly where to place pressure to provide relief and avoid making the problem worse.

Chiropractors have a lot of education and know the right way to adjust the spine. The same cannot be said for that friend you always ask to crack your back for you.

Chiropractic Care is Too Expensive

Many people assume that chiropractic care is a luxury that's too expensive for them.

Most health insurance plans cover at least a portion of chiropractic care, though. In fact, 60 percent of people who receive chiropractic care have some -- if not all -- of it covered.

Chiropractic care is much more affordable than a lot of people realize. Chiropractors often run promotions on a regular basis to bring in new patients, too.

Chiropractors Aren't Real Doctors

Of all the myths out there about chiropractors, this is one of the most frustrating.

Chiropractors spend a lot of time in school learning the right way to diagnose and treat patients. In fact, they spend more time in school than MDs. Chiropractors attend about 400 more classroom hours.

Thanks to these additional classroom hours, they're better versed in subjects like anatomy, physiology, public health, nutrition, and rehabilitation.

Chiropractic Adjustments are Dangerous

The idea of a chiropractic adjustment can be a bit intimidating at first. The sound of a spine being adjusted isn't exactly pleasant, after all.

Chiropractic adjustments are not dangerous, though, as long as they're being performed by a licensed chiropractor.

Having your spine adjusted is totally safe and non-invasive. They don't cause side effects, either.

The same cannot be said for a lot of other traditional remedies, such as over-the-counter or prescription painkillers. These drugs can be highly habit-forming and can cause a slew of digestive issues, kidney damage, cardiovascular problems, and more.

Chiropractic Adjustments Hurt

Not only are chiropractic adjustments safe. They're also painless.

It's true that you might feel a bit uncomfortable at first, especially if you're not used to having your spine adjusted. That discomfort won't last long, though.

You'll feel so much better once the adjustment is over that you'll be wondering why you didn't see a chiropractor sooner!

There's No Evidence Backing Chiropractic Adjustments

This is another frustrating myth about chiropractors. There's actually a lot of evidence backing the effectiveness of chiropractic care.

For example, the results of this study showed that chiropractor care was more effective than physical therapy and steroid injections when it came to treating sciatic nerve pain.

Chiropractic care had a 72 percent success rate, compared to a 20 percent success rate for physical therapy and a 50 percent success rate for steroid injections.

This study also showed that patients suffering from chronic low back pain had higher satisfaction rates when they work with a chiropractor than when they work with a family physician.

Fifty-six percent of patients were satisfied with the chiropractor, compared to just 13 percent who were satisfied with the family physician.

You Have to Keep Seeing the Chiropractor Forever

Some people claim that, once you see a chiropractor once, you have to keep seeing them forever. This isn't the case at all.

When you first start going to the chiropractor, you may have to go on a more frequent basis. But, over time, as your condition improves, you'll be able to cut down the number of times you have to see them each week or month.

You don't have to see the chiropractor forever, not at all. You'll probably want to see them on a regular basis, though (even if it's just once a month for a tune-up), because you feel so good.

Chiropractors Only Treat Back Problems

Many people assume that, because a chiropractor spends the majority of their time adjusting the spine, their services are only for those who are struggling with back pain or back injuries. This definitely is not the case, though.

Chiropractors have the knowledge and skill set necessary to treat a wide range of health problems. Some other issues a chiropractor can treat include:

• Chronic migraines and tension headaches
• Allergies and asthma
• Stress and anxiety
• Insomnia
• Chronic pain (in any area of the body)
• Poor range of motion and mobility

You can visit a chiropractor for health with a wide range of issues. Whether you're dealing with an injury after a car accident, a sports injury, or problems with your mental health, a chiropractor can help.

Chiropractors Only Do Manual Adjustments

Manual adjustments make up the bulk of chiropractic treatments. They're not the only thing that chiropractors do, though.

Most chiropractors make use of other treatment modalities in their practice. This includes techniques like massage, ultrasound, and nerve stimulation.

Chiropractors are educated individuals, and they work hard to continue learning more about the best techniques they can use to help their patients enjoy healthy, pain-free lives.

Learn More Chiropractic Facts Today

Now that you've had some of the most common chiropractor myths debunked and are more aware of the true chiropractic facts, are you ready to give chiropractic care a try?

If you're struggling with chronic pain, a slow-to-heal injury, or just want to generally feel better, a chiropractor can help.

Contact us at Inner Balance Institute today to learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment.

We offer assistance with a wide range of injuries and issues, and we can't wait to help you start feeling your best!