Even though it’s becoming more mainstream and widely accepted, people are still curious, and often have unanswered questions about chiropractic care.
And it’s usually because they’ve never been to see a chiropractor.
The obvious remedy to this would be to schedule an appointment with a chiropractor and ask them all the questions you can think of.
They will gladly answer all of them, and if you’re up for it, they might even perform a spinal adjustment, so you leave their office feeling better than when you came in.
The next best way to get acquainted with chiropractic care is to do your own research.
So, in the article below, we’ve answered a few of the most common questions people have about chiropractic care to give you a better understanding of what chiropractic is and how it can help you.
What Is Chiropractic?
First things first, what exactly is chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a medical profession focusing on the health of your musculoskeletal system and/or nervous system.
Chiropractic care is safe for people of any age because they use a variety of non-invasive, non-surgical, hands-on approaches to health care.
Chiropractors perform what are called adjustments to your spine or other parts of your body that might be out of alignment.
The goal is to correct any alignment problems, stop pain from the source, and support your body’s natural ability to heal itself.
And chiropractic care does not use a one size fits all approach.
Your chiropractor will design a treatment plan tailored to meet your specific needs.
Is Chiropractic Care Effective?
Without a doubt. Chiropractic care is safe and effective.
Chiropractic care has been used for over 100 years, or, if you count 4,000-year-old etchings on turtle shells depicting spinal alignments as chiropractic care, it’s been around much longer than that.
There is a mountain of scientific evidence proving that chiropractic care works.
Over the last 20 years, various research studies have repeatedly shown that chiropractic care is not only safe but extremely effective for treating back pain and headaches, among others.
Based on these studies, the general consensus is that chiropractic care is the go-to treatment for the majority of spinal problems.
The extent to which you will benefit from chiropractic care depends on the problems you are having and how long you’ve had them.
Can I Adjust Myself Between Visits?
This is a common misconception. Many people think because they can crack their knuckles and other joints, that they must be able to adjust themselves as well.
That’s not true.
Chiropractors are specially trained to perform these adjustments, they aren’t something you can do on your own.
Just like you shouldn’t self-diagnose a sickness, or perform surgery on yourself, you shouldn’t expect to be able to perform a spinal adjustment on yourself.
And just because certain movements could make your back crack, that’s still not the same as an adjustment.
A spinal adjustment is a very specialized technique, and at-home “adjustments” are usually counterproductive and could potentially lead to injury.
So instead of trying to crack your back, or getting a friend or significant other to do it, schedule a visit to see your chiropractor.
Do I Need To Be Referred To A Chiropractor?
Not at all. You are free to see a chiropractor whenever you feel the need.
You don’t need to be referred by your primary care doctor.
In fact, a chiropractor can actually serve as your primary care doctor, and many people are starting to use them in that way.
If you have a primary care doctor that isn’t your chiropractor, you can always keep them informed about your visits to the chiropractor, but you do not have to be referred.
Why Do I Need To See A Chiropractor?
Everyone has something to gain from seeing a chiropractor.
From professional athletes to stay-at-home moms, engineers to chefs, toddlers to seniors, chiropractic care is used to achieve optimal health.
Most people see a chiropractor for back, neck, or other joint pain.
Other people see them to help with headaches and migraines.
And still, other people see the chiropractor so they can stay in peak physical condition.
Your dentist keeps your teeth healthy, your optometrist keeps your eyes healthy, but we take our spine, a critical component of our body, for granted.
A chiropractor will do for your spine what your dentist does for your teeth, and you will feel the positive effects throughout your body.
How Often Should I See My Chiropractor?
There’s not a clear answer for this, because it depends on the individual.
Someone with chronic back pain will likely need to see their chiropractor more often than someone who is just trying to stay in peak physical condition.
It also depends on the treatment the chiropractor prescribes, such as relaxation techniques or diet and lifestyle counseling.
Once your chiropractor reviews your medical history and completes a physical exam, they will have a better idea of how often you should be visiting.
Once they design your treatment program, you will know how often you will need to visit, and the frequency of your visits will likely decrease over time as symptoms improve.
We get this question frequently from seniors. So in our previous article, we discuss 7 reasons chiropractic care can benefit seniors.
Now You Know
Those are some of the questions we got most often about chiropractic care.
Now that you know some of the basics, you should be more comfortable visiting a chiropractor.
But, as we said before, the best way to get your questions answered is to visit a chiropractor in person.
If you’d like to see a chiropractor, give the team at the Advanced Injury Care Clinic a call.
Their expert chiropractors have years of experience, and they’d be happy to answer any questions you might have.
Click the button below to get started.
Table of Contents
- What Is Chiropractic?
- Is Chiropractic Care Effective?
- Can I Adjust Myself Between Visits?
- Do I Need To Be Referred To A Chiropractor?
- Why Do I Need To See A Chiropractor?
- How Often Should I See My Chiropractor?
- Now You Know
- Advanced Injury Care
