| Chiropractic is the third-largest
doctoral-level health care profession in the western world
after medicine and dentistry. Its approach to human health
is based on the premise that the relationship structure
and function in the human body is a significant health factor
and that relationships between the spinal column and the
nervous system are important to the health and well-being
of the individual. |
| Chiropractic treats the patient, not
just symptoms. By using a holistic approach and examining
the lifestyle of the patient, the doctor of chiropractic
not only addresses the problem, but the cause as well. Chiropractic
avoids potentially high-risk solutions such as prescribed
drugs and surgery. Instead, chiropractic care involves a
more natural, conservative approach that promotes self-healing
and helps to strengthen the body's natural defense systems. |
| Doctors of chiropractic, also known
as chiropractors, are physicians who consider humans as
integrated beings, but give special attention to the interaction
among the musculoskeletal system, the nervous system, and
a patient's lifestyle. |
| Manipulation is treatment using the
doctor's hands to apply body leverage and physical thrust
to one joint or a group of related joints to restore normal
function. Through the use of manipulation, the doctor seeks
to provide relief from symptoms, improve joint and muscle
function, and speed recovery.
The
most common form of manipulation used by doctors of chiropractic
is the spinal adjustment, a very specific form of manipulation
requiring a high level of training. |
| Yes! It is one of the safest drugless,
non-surgical treatments available when administered by a
qualified doctor of chiropractic. While any form of health
treatment has a degree of inherent risk, there is little
danger in chiropractic care administered by a licensed practitioner.
In fact, statistics show that patient risk is substantially
lower with chiropractic as opposed to many medical procedures
where the use of prescription drugs and surgery pose a greater
risk. |
| Manipulation is rarely painful. In
fact, most patients feel it relieves pain and tension in
their joints. A few patients report slight soreness or a
dull aching in the treated muscles or joints, but these
are considered normal reactions to the treatment and generally
disappear shortly afterward. In the majority of cases, manipulation
is painless and the beneficial effects from the treatment
are quickly realized. |
| To obtain a degree as a doctor of chiropractic,
a candidate must have a minimum of two years professional
college education with a curriculum concentrated in the
basic and biological sciences plus four years of resident
instruction at a chiropractic college.
Doctors
of chiropractic spend years of studying and perfecting
the art of performing manual therapies, as well as administering
other natural noninvasive treatments. Some chiropractors
go on to become board certified in special areas of study
such as sports injuries, orthopedics, radiology, occupational
health, and nutrition. For this reason, the doctor of
chiropractic is keenly aware of the numerous conservative
treatments that will bring about the most rapid results. |
| Studies that compare chiropractic and
medical treatments demonstrate that cases under chiropractic
care show lower treatment costs, reduced work-time losses,
and reduced worker disability. Over 75 percent of payments
for chiropractic services are covered by one or more types
of insurance or other third party payments systems. These
include: private indemnity insurance, auto insurance, worker's
compensation insurance, Medicare, and prepaid/managed care
plans.
Adapted from: The American Chiropractic Association |
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