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About
Chiropractic
CHIROPRACTIC
QUICK FACTS
Chiropractic is the fastest-growing and second-largest primary health
care profession.
There
are approximately 60,000 doctors of chiropractic (DCs) in active
practice in the United States spread from rural areas to inner cities.
More than 10,000 students are currently enrolled in chiropractic
educational programs accredited by a federally recognized body (CCE).
Chiropractic
services are in high demand.
Tens of millions of Americans
routinely opt for chiropractic services and this number is rapidly
growing. In 1993, more than 30 million consumers made chiropractic a
regular part of their health care program.
Doctors of Chiropractic receive extensive, demanding professional
education on par with medical doctors (MDs) and osteopaths (DOs).
To receive the doctor of
chiropractic degree, candidates must complete extensive undergraduate
prerequisites and four years of graduate-level instruction and
internship at an accredited chiropractic institution. Comprehensive
knowledge of all systems of the body and diagnostic procedures enable
the DC to thoroughly evaluate a patient, address disorders relating to
the spine and determine the need for referral to another health care
provider.
Doctors of
Chiropractic are primary health care providers.
According to the Center for
Studies in Health Policy, "The DC can provide all three levels of
primary care interventions and therefore is a primary care provider, as
are MDs and DOs. The doctor of chiropractic is a gatekeeper to the
health care system and an independent practitioner who provides primary
care services. The DC's office is a direct access portal of entry to the
full scope of service."
Doctors of
Chiropractic are licensed in all 50 states.
DCs have been licensed and
recognized for many decades in all states, the District of Columbia and
Puerto Rico.
Chiropractic is
recognized by governmental health care programs.
Chiropractic is included in
Medicare, Medicaid, Federal Employees Health Care Benefits Programs,
Federal Workers' Compensation and all state workers' compensation
programs. Chiropractic students are qualified to receive federal student
loan assistance and DCs are authorized to be commissioned as health care
officers in the U.S. Armed Forces.
The practice of
chiropractic is based on sound scientific principles.
The existence of the nervous
system as the primary control mechanism of the body is an undisputed
scientific fact. Its relationship with the spine is the focus of the
practice of chiropractic. The spine develops in utero to provide two
primary functions: (1) allow for freedom of movement and (2) house and
protect the spinal cord. When the vertebrae of the spine become
misaligned through trauma or repetitive injury, two major consequences
will result: (1) the range of motion becomes limited and (2) spinal
nerves emerging from the spinal cord are compromised. DCs use the term
"subluxation" to describe such disruptions. Interruption of
nerve flow can eventually lead to pain, disability, and an overall
decrease in the quality of life. Conversely, the removal of that
interference has been shown to have significant, lasting health
benefits. Through the adjustment of the subluxation, the doctor of
chiropractic endeavors to restore normal nerve expression. The body is
then able to respond appropriately to any imbalance in the system, thus
relieving symptoms and restoring health.
Doctors of chiropractic provide effective, low-cost health care for a
wide range of conditions.
Studies conducted according to the
highest scientific standards and published by organizations not
affiliated in any way with chiropractic institutions or associations
continue to show the clinical appropriateness and effectiveness of
chiropractic care. One of the most recent, funded by the Ontario
Ministry of Health, stated emphatically that:
"On the evidence,
particularly the most scientifically valid clinical studies, spinal
manipulation applied by chiropractors is shown to be more effective than
alternative treatments for low back pain...There would be highly
significant cost savings if more management of low back pain was
transferred from physician to chiropractors."
The doctor of
chiropractic is an effective source of preventative and wellness care.
The anatomical focus of the DC on
the human spine has created the perception of the DC as just a
"back doctor." Although this perception is not entirely
incorrect, it is very much incomplete. Doctors of chiropractic are a
highly appropriate resource in matters of work-place safety, stress
management, injury prevention, postural correction and nutritional
counseling."
The process of
chiropractic adjustment is a safe, efficient procedure which is
performed nearly one million times every working day in the United
States.
There is a singular lack of
actuarial data that would justify concluding that chiropractic care is
in any way harmful or dangerous. Chiropractic care is non-invasive;
therefore, the body's response to chiropractic care is far more
predictable than its reactions to drug treatments or surgical
procedures. Of the nearly one million adjustments given every day in
this country, complications are exceedingly rare. Perhaps the best
summary statement on the subject of safety was published in 1979 by the
Government of New Zealand, which established a special commission to
study chiropractic. They found:
"The conspicuous
lack of evidence that chiropractors cause harm or allow harm to occur
through neglect of medical referral can be taken to mean only one thing:
that chiropractors have on the whole an impressive safety record."
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What
is a subluxation?
A Subluxation…
·
is a vertebra out of alignment
·
interferes with nerve function
·
compromises your general health
·
may be painful or painless
·
may strike anyone at any age
The
Association of Chiropractic Colleges defines a subluxation as “a
complex of functional and/or structural and/or pathological articular
changes that compromise neural integrity and may influence organ system
function and general health.”
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Why do I have Subluxations?
Your
subluxations are caused partly by your genetic make up and partly by the
daily physical, chemical and mental stresses your body endures.
Because spinal joint integrity is partly genetic, it is important
to have your family checked.
Your body is amazingly adaptive to
the daily stresses it undergoes. But
when accumulated stress exceeds the ability of your body to adapt,
subluxations appear and cause nerve interference.
The bottom line is that sooner or
later everyone suffers the negative effect of subluxations.
Just as accumulated dental plaque causes cavities in your mouth,
accumulated stress causes subluxations in your spine.
Also, just as regular dental cleanings can reduce or prevent
tooth decay, regular Chiropractic checkups reduce or prevent spinal
degeneration and decay.
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How
is a subluxation corrected?
Doctors of Chiropractic are
specialists in neuromusculoskeletal conditions. They are trained to
restore the misaligned vertebrae to their proper position in the spinal
column. They do this manually, utilizing the chiropractic procedure
known as "spinal adjustment." Your chiropractor, in most
cases, will use his or her hands in applying corrective pressure to the
spine in a specific direction and location. The manual force or thrust
helps restore the alignment and mobility of the vertebrae. In some
cases, the chiropractor may use instrumentation to detect subluxations
and adjust the spine.
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Does
the adjustment hurt?
Under normal circumstances,
chiropractic adjustments are painless. In cases of recent trauma, such
as whiplash, mild discomfort may be experienced due to inflammation. It
is also common to feel a brief sensation in the extremities immediately
following an adjustment due to the sudden decompression of the affected
nerve root.
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Is
regular chiropractic care necessary?
Regular chiropractic care may
be necessary to correct spinal subluxations to help maintain sound
health and fitness. Your spine is under constant strain during waking
hours. Improper lifting techniques, poor posture, accidents, falls and
bumps, and other causes can contribute to spinal strain. Timely
adjustments can help restore the neuromusculoskeletal integrity of the
spine to normalize the bodily equilibrium and increase resistance.
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How
old should a person be before he or she begins chiropractic care?
Chiropractic patients range in
years from birth to old age. Regardless of age, the vertebrae can become
misaligned. For example, the birth process may cause trauma to the neck
and spine. Left uncorrected, the vertebral subluxation may disturb the
delicate spinal cord and nerves which control the youngster's muscles
and organs. In some cases, an uncorrected subluxation may lead to a
deformity of the spinal column. An early chiropractic checkup may detect
many spinal problems while they are still easily correctable.
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How
will the adjustment help me?
Chiropractic adjustments by
themselves do not actually heal the body. When any of the 24 moveable
spinal vertebrae become misaligned, a basic imbalance or disruption can
occur in the nervous and blood vascular systems, which may contribute to
stress in the body. Chiropractic adjustments help to eliminate that
imbalance or disruption so that the body can function at its true
potential.
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Does
an adjustment have to make a noise to be effective?
No, it is a common
misconception that your joints must make a noise to be properly
adjusted. However, more often than not when your vertebrae are adjusted,
the smooth articular (joint) surfaces become separated, creating and
then releasing a small vacuum, making a noise. This is the sound made
when you crack your knuckles. Your chiropractor is concerned with the
position of your vertebrae, not with the noise that may occur.
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Should I go to
a Chiropractor if I feel fine?
Even if you feel fine,
chiropractic care can help your body maintain its required level of
health and fitness. Your chiropractor can recommend a preventive
spinal-care program and advise you on correct posture, dietary
information and back exercises. Regular spinal checkups can help detect
and prevent spinal stress due to subluxations.
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Is
it true that Chiropractors do not prescribe medication or perform
surgery?
Yes. Chiropractors do not
include medication or surgery in their treatment program. Chiropractors
maintain that the body has a built-in capacity to restore health within
certain limits, and base their care on this principle. Occasionally, the
use of medication can interfere with the body's healing mechanisms,
produce side effects, create dependence and lead to drug-caused disease
or complications. The first response in most illnesses and injuries
should be conservative care. Chiropractic's principles make it possibly
the safest and most appealing of the healing arts.
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How
does chiropractic care help the pregnant woman?
Because of the additional
weight and stress on the framework of the body in pregnant women,
chiropractic adjustments can help lower the incidence of pain in the low
back and legs, and between the shoulder blades. In some cases, fewer
headaches and problems with nausea and elimination may also result. Many
chiropractors care for expectant mothers in the regular course of their
daily practices. It is wise, however, to first inquire about the
experience of your chiropractor in caring for pregnant women and what he
or she recommends for you.
Source:
International Chiropractors Association (ICA) www.chiropractic.org
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Comparisons
between Chiropractic
and Medical Schools
Courses
(classroom hours)
|
Chiropractic
|
|
Medicine |
| 520 |
Anatomy |
508 |
| 420 |
Physiology |
326 |
| 130 |
Pathology |
401 |
| 205 |
Chemistry |
325 |
| 300 |
Microbiology |
114 |
| 420 |
Diagnosis |
324 |
| 320 |
Neurology |
112 |
| 217 |
X-ray |
148 |
| 65 |
Psychiatry |
144 |
| 65 |
Obstetrics |
148 |
| 225 |
Orthopedics |
156 |
| Total Hours |
|
Total Hours |
| 2,887 |
|
2,706 |
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