If you’ve never seen a chiropractor, you may have some misconceptions about the what they actually do and how they help people. But in order to make the best decisions about your health, you need all of the facts – not unverified stories and anecdotes about friends of friends. Today, we’re debunking five of the most common chiropractic myths.
Chiropractors Aren’t Real Doctors
A chiropractor is indeed a doctor, with the education that the title implies. In most cases, chiropractors complete four years of pre-medical undergraduate education, before four to five years of study at an accredited chiropractic college. Thousands of hours of training both in the classroom and as clinical experience must be completed. If you stop to consider the intricacy of the bones in the neck and spine, this myth really debunks itself.
Once You Start with Chiropractic Care, You Can’t Stop
This myth is persistent, the idea that chiropractic care is ongoing. For specific conditions, your chiropractor should be able to develop a specific treatment plan which will include her best guess for the number of sessions you’ll need to find resolution. But the root of this myth is likely linked to another truth.
There are many things we do regularly for our health – things like visiting the dentist twice annually or working out three times a week. An adjustment that puts you into proper alignment makes you feel great, and once you recognize how that feels, you can become more attuned to being out of alignment. While you can absolutely quit chiropractic care at any time, the truth is, you may not want to stop because it has such a positive effect on your body and health.
Chiropractors Only Treat Back Pain
Yes, chiropractors traditionally treat back and neck pain. But there are so many other conditions they can treat. From headaches to hip pain, shoulder pain to foot pain, chronic joint pain to colic, your chiropractor can offer assistance far beyond a sore back.
Adjustments Are Bad for Your Bones
The noises that accompany some adjustments are likely the basis of this myth. But the popping sounds you hear aren’t from cracking or grinding bones. Instead, they’re the sound of gas bubbles releasing between the joints – the same one you hear when you crack your knuckles. It’s the pressure that comes from the joint changing. There is no damage to your bones, make no mistake.
You Can Crack Your Own Back
You may be able to do just that, but having a licensed professional with thousands of hours of training means that your adjustments are purposeful and specific. Do your sensitive joints a favor, and refrain from cracking your own back or neck. Just because you hear or feel something when you do it yourself doesn’t mean that you’ve accomplished the same thing as your chiropractor.
One of the best ways to have your questions answered is with a visit to Dr. McSweeney. Schedule your first appointment now, and learn exactly how Dr. McSweeney can help.