There are several reasons why myths have developed around the field of chiropractic care. Chiropractic medicine is one of the newest forms of medicine, which means that studies and efficacy surrounding chiropractic care are not as extensive as modern western medicine. Consider these factors that can generate myths around the field of chiropractic care:
Miscommunication – Whether you’re just passing by a conversation regarding chiropractic adjustments or speaking with an individual that is presenting untrue information as fact, the further you get from the source, the more opportunity there is for misinterpreting the truth. Just like the telephone game that you played as a kid, there is a lot of room for error to mishear or forget critical details. Even small tweaks to a story can create a false misconception.
Misrepresentation – Miscommunications are natural and can’t be helped. However, taking false or unfounded information regarding chiropractic care and spreading that information to those you know or online is more reckless and intentional. Unless you have personal experience with chiropractic care or are a trained chiropractor, you aren’t necessarily qualified to properly represent the field of chiropractic.
Malpractice – One thing that can unfortunately validate misinformation surrounding chiropractic adjustments is the few chiropractors that, either through inexperience or human error, perform erroneous adjustments that injure their patients or fail to improve their condition. These few bad apples create genuinely negative experiences surrounding chiropractic care.
With the understanding that there are many situations that can create misinformation about chiropractors, consider the source and reasons why you feel a certain way about the field of chiropractic. Our chiropractors came together to set the record straight on these top myths about chiropractic care.
#1 Once you start chiropractic care, you must keep going back.
Many chiropractic treatment plans include weeks, months or even years of routine chiropractic care. This routine care and regular expense of chiropractic adjustments leads people to believe that they must keep going back over and over for adjustments to get results. The truth is, adjusting the spine is a sensitive treatment that requires cautious and careful manipulations. The other factor that validates this myth is degenerative and chronic conditions that require regular adjustments to manage symptoms.
The fact is, patients can come in for a single adjustment to experience quick relief or correct a broken ankle or minor lower back pain in as little as a month. Each patient and each injury is unique, do not assume that one person’s chiropractic experience will reflect your experience, especially if you choose a highly qualified Dallas chiropractor.
#2 Chiropractors aren’t really doctors.
Any chiropractor must acquire a Doctor of Chiropractic degree to become a licensed chiropractor. This program typically requires a combined seven years of collegiate studies in addition to extensive supervised clinical hours, reflective of the education and training that goes into an M.D. degree.
#3 Chiropractic care only treats back pain.
Touching on the points made above, D.C.s study much more than just back and spine health. Required coursework for chiropractors includes physiology, anatomy, biology, etc. As a result, there is more overlap between D.C.s and M.D.s than what is assumed by the general public. Chiropractors can adjust all musculoskeletal injuries in addition to other general health corrections and guidance.
#4 There is no proof behind chiropractic adjustments.
As a newer medical field, not as much clinical research has been issued for the field of chiropractic care. This has generated the notion that there is no true scientific backing to support the effectiveness of chiropractic adjustments. The reality is that performing physical manipulations has proven to relieve pressure and adjust misalignments in patients with neck, back and other joint pain. At Peralta Chiropractic, you don’t have to look any further than our happy patient reviews to see that chiropractic care from a trusted and experienced chiropractor truly works.
#5 Chiropractic care is risky.
Feeding off the instances of malpractice, people have created the notion that chiropractic care is risky. The truth is that physical medicine works closely with each patient to understand how he or she reacts to treatments. This means that treatments are extremely catered to individual needs and safer than alternative forms of medicine. Therefore, malpractice insurance companies place higher premiums on surgeons and physicians and lower rates on chiropractic premiums.
The truth is that with so many factors that contribute to the results of a medical treatment, it can be difficult to separate myth from fact. However, you can do your due diligence by learning more about chiropractic care directly from the source (a chiropractor) rather than placing your trust in less informed sources.
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