Your Health : Chiropractic
Research
Frequently Asked Questions
What conditions do chiropractors treat?
Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders
of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and
the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic
care is used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints,
including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the
joints of the arms or legs, and headaches.
How do I select a doctor of chiropractic?
You can locate a doctor of chiropractic (DC) by browsing the ACA Find
a Doctor page, searching the Yellow Pages, speaking with friends,
or contacting your local chamber of commerce. Because stringent
educational and professional requirements are required for state
licensure, the public is assured of academic competence and clinical
experience.
Does chiropractic treatment require a referral
from an MD?
No, a patient does not need referral by an MD before visiting a doctor
of chiropractic. Chiropractors are first contact physicians, and are
so defined in federal and state regulations. Following a consultation
and examination, the doctor of chiropractic will arrive at a diagnosis
under chiropractic care, or refer the patient to the appropriate health
care provider.
Is chiropractic treatment safe?
Yes, chiropractic treatment is safe and effective. While any
form of health treatment contains a degree of inherent risk, there
is little danger in chiropractic care when administered by a licensed
practitioner. To assure competency, all states require that DCs
be board-qualified, licensed, and regulated according to stringent
criteria. Statistics show that patient risk is substantially
lower in chiropractic as opposed to medical care, where the use of
prescription drugs and surgery pose a greater risk.
Is chiropractic treatment appropriate for children?
Yes, children can benefit from chiropractic care. Children are very
physically active and experience many types of falls and blows from
activities of daily living as well as from participating in sports.
Injuries such as these may cause many symptoms including back and
neck pain, stiffness, soreness or discomfort. Chiropractic care is
always adapted to the individual patient. It is a highly skilled
treatment, and in the case of children, very gentle.
Are chiropractors allowed to practice in hospitals
or use medical outpatient facilities?
Chiropractors are being recognized to admit and treat patients in hospitals
and to use outpatient clinical facilities (such as labs, x-rays, etc.)
for their non-hospitalized patients. Hospital privileges were
first granted in 1983.
Do insurance plans cover chiropractic?
The majority of all insured American workers have coverage for chiropractic
services in their health care plans. For example, the federal
government’s Office of Personnel Management offers chiropractic
coverage for federal employees in both the Mail Handlers and BCBS
benefit plans. In addition, there is a chiropractic benefit
in Federal Workers’ Compensation, and chiropractic care is
available to members of the armed forces at more than 40 military
bases, and is available at nearly 30 veterans’ medical facilities.
What type of education and training do chiropractors
have?
Chiropractors are educated as primary contact health care practitioners,
with an emphasis on musculoskeletal diagnosis and treatment. Educational
requirements for doctors of chiropractic are among the most stringent
of any of the health care professions. The typical applicant
at a chiropractic college has already acquired nearly four years of
pre-medical undergraduate college education, including courses in biology,
inorganic and organic chemistry, physics, psychology and related lab
work. Once accepted into an accredited chiropractic college, the requirements
become even more demanding — four to five academic years of professional
study are the standard. Because of the hands-on nature of chiropractic,
and the intricate adjusting techniques, a significant portion of time
is spent in clinical training.
In total, the chiropractic curriculum includes a minimum of 4,200
hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical experience. The course
of study is approved by an accrediting agency that is fully recognized
by the U.S. Department of Education.
How is a chiropractic adjustment performed?
Chiropractic adjustment or manipulation is a manual procedure that
utilizes the highly refined skills developed during the intensive
years of chiropractic education. The chiropractor typically uses
his/her hands to manipulate the joints of the body, particularly
the spine, in order to reduce pain, and restore or enhance joint
function. Chiropractic manipulation is a highly controlled
procedure that rarely causes discomfort. The chiropractor adapts
the procedure to meet the specific needs of each patient. Patients
often note positive changes in their symptoms immediately following
treatment.
Is chiropractic treatment ongoing?
The hands-on nature of the chiropractic treatment is essentially what
requires patients to visit the chiropractor a number of times. To be
treated by a chiropractor, a patient needs to be in his or her office.
In contrast, a course of treatment from medical doctors often involves
a pre-established plan that is conducted at home (i.e. taking a course
of antibiotics once a day for a couple of weeks). A chiropractor may
provide acute, chronic, and/or preventive care thus making a certain
number of visits sometimes necessary. Your doctor of chiropractic
should tell you the extent of treatment recommended and how long you
can expect it to last.
Why is there a popping sound when a joint is
adjusted?
Adjustment of a joint may result in release of a gas bubble between
the joints that makes a popping sound – it’s exactly the
same as when you “crack” your knuckles. The noise
is caused by the change of pressure within the joint that results in
gas bubbles being released. There is no pain involved.
