Between the contradictory public opinions regarding chiropractic care and the sometimes easily observable differences between chiropractic clinics, it can be difficult to pick out the truth about this helpful service from all of the misconceptions. At its core, chiropractic care focuses on correcting misalignments in your spine in order to promote optimal autonomic nervous system function and, by extension, optimal overall health and wellness. It’s that simple! Keep reading to dig a bit deeper into the common myths about chiropractic, so you can make an informed, comfortable decision on whether or not chiropractic care is right for you.
3 MYTHS ABOUT CHIROPRACTIC CAREChiropractic Care is Painful & Dangerous
Many people avoid seeing a chiropractor because they’ve heard somewhere that chiropractic adjustments are painful. While a rare group of chiropractic patients may feel some soreness after seeing a chiropractor, these folks are the exceptions, not the rule. Most patients experience immediate relief from their pain during and after the adjustment. Additionally, the type of pain felt by those who do experience some discomfort is often the same type of pain you experience during a massage, which patients will comment “hurts so good.”
At least part of the myth that adjustments are dangerous likely stems from the chiropractic care misconception that the audible crack heard during an adjustment is caused by contact between your bones. Don’t worry, a chiropractor isn’t going to be grinding your bones together. The sound that is heard during an adjustment is actually not a crack at all. It’s a cavitation being released from the synovial fluid, which lubricates your joint capsules. A cavitation is essentially a space within your joint that is filled with gas, and the noise you hear is its rapid release from between your joint surfaces, just like when you pop your finger knuckles.
Chiropractors Aren’t “Real” Doctors
Chiropractors provide a very wide range of services using an equally wide range of methods and tools, so it’s very likely that no two chiropractic clinics you visit will be the same. Many people take this fact as a sign of chiropractic’s invalidity, claiming that chiropractors aren’t “real” doctors. Because chiropractic is a service that is very much tailored to the patient’s individual needs, the variety of clinics and methods speaks only to the variety of conditions experienced by chiropractic patients. No two patients are alike, so it makes sense that no two clinics are alike either. In addition, it hardly seems fair to claim that chiropractors are not real doctors (although it is true that a chiropractor is not the same as a medical doctor) when licensed chiropractors must complete just as much if not more schooling as medical doctors, including practical work within a clinical setting.
Once You Begin, You Can’t Stop Chiropractic Treatment
Some people seem to believe that their chiropractor will be breaking down their front doors should they decide to stop seeking chiropractic treatment. In reality, chiropractors will require only as many sessions as your condition or pain symptoms call for. If you just need to come in for a single adjustment every so often, that’s great! For some patients, that is all they need, while others may require a longer run of consistent sessions in order to feel complete relief. For the most part, patients experience alleviation of their symptoms after a few weeks (or sometimes months) of treatment. That being said, the important thing is to stay in communication with your chiropractor. If you won’t be returning, let your chiropractor know so he or she can offer you whatever parting advice you need.
Are you ready to give chiropractic care a shot? Maybe you’re not too sure yet, and you need to speak with a chiropractor for yourself. Here at Khoury Chiropractic, we offer complimentary consultations, so you can decide with our chiropractor whether or not chiropractic treatment is right for you.