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Frequently Asked Questions What is Chiropractic care?
Chiropractic is a natural method of health care that focuses on treating the causes of physical problems, rather than just treating the symptoms. Chiropractic is based on a simple but powerful premise. With a normally functioning spine and healthy nerve system, your body is better able to heal itself. That's because your spine is the lifeline of your nervous system. It controls feeling, movement, and all function through your body. How does Chiropractic work?
Chiropractic works by restoring your body's inborn ability to be healthy. When under the proper control of your nervous system, all the cells, tissues, and organs of your body are designed to resist disease and ill health. The chiropractic approach to better health is to locate and remove interferences (subluxations, misaligned vertebrae) to your nervous system. With improved spinal function, there is improved nervous system function. The goal of the chiropractor is to remove interference that may be impairing normal health through specific chiropractic adjustments, allowing your body to heal itself. A healthy spine and a healthy lifestyle are your keys to optimal health! Is Chiropractic for everyone?
Chiropractic can help from the time of birth until the time of death. Because chiropractic is a safe alternative to drugs and surgeries, many parents bring their children to chiropractors for such things as middle ear infections, colic and bed-wetting. At the other end of the spectrum, the elderly experience relief from arthritis. Even pregnant mothers find chiropractic to be helpful. Expectant moms find that chiropractic adjustments improve theirpregnancy and make delivery easier. How much education is required for Chiropractors?
Many people believe that a doctor of chiropractic has a two-year degree. Chiropractic students are required to have a minimum of 90 credits of undergraduate work before applying to a chiropractic college. The chiropractic curriculum is a 5½ year curriculum that encompasses a wide range of topics including basic sciences, radiology, clinical diagnoses, and chiropractic technique. They are trained to recognize and diagnose disease entities and refer to the appropriate health professional if it falls outside their scope of practice. Chiropractic and medical schools have similar total student hours- 4,822 (chiropractic) and 4,667 (medical). Please refer to the table below for a breakdown and comparison of education
Basic sciences represent approximately 25-30% in each program. Chiropractic students have more anatomy and physiology but fewer hours in public health. The same textbooks are used. Clinical hours are also similar, however, there is a difference in how they are divided. Chiropractic sciences (e.g. biomechanical diagnoses of the musculoskeletal system, chiropractic adjusting techniques, and diagnostic imaging) equal 1975 hours or 41% of their total program with an additional 1,431 hours of supervised management of patients. There is little emphasis on surgery or pharmacology within the chiropractic curriculum, which is to be expected; this is obviously outside the scope of their practice. These subjects are replaced with chiropractic sciences. Medical undergraduate education has no equivalent to the chiropractic sciences; however, they spend all their clinical hours in clinical clerkships in addition to residencies at the post-graduate level. Doctor's of chiropractic also have postgraduate training available in such areas as radiology, neurology, orthopedics, pediatrics, rehabilitation, and more. These residences typically include at least 300 hours of additional training over a period of three years. Doctor's of chiropractic are also expected to pass a stringent set of national board examinations involving basic sciences, chiropractic sciences clinical competency. The national board examinations are administered by the national board of chiropractic examiners. Can pregnant mothers benefit from Chiropractic care?
Anytime is a good time for a better functioning nerve system. Pregnant mothers find that chiropractic adjustments improve their pregnancy and make delivery easier for themselves and their baby. Adjusting methods are always adapted to a patient’s size, weight, age, and condition of health. What can I expect on my first visit?
The first thing your chiropractor will do is ask you about the health complaints about which you are chiefly concerned. The doctor will also ask about your family history, dietary habits, other care you may have had (chiropractic, osteopathic, medical, etc.), your job, and other questions designed to help determine the nature of your illness and the best way to go about treating the problem. A physical examination will be performed in accordance with your DC's clinical judgment, which may include x-rays, laboratory analysis and other diagnostic procedures. In addition, a careful spinal examination and analysis will be performed to detect any structural abnormalities which may be affecting or causing your condition. All of these elements are important components of your total health profile, and vital to the doctor of chiropractic in evaluating your problem. Does insurance cover Chiropractic?
Most insurance plans cover a portion of chiropractic. Insurance companies have learned over time that patients under chiropractic care often get better, faster, and often with less expense as compared to utilizing a traditional medical approach What's the cracking noise?
When a chiropractor delivers a chiropractic adjustment, a "cracking noise" is often heard. This noise is the result of the bones moving. Think of a can of soda- there is a can, filled with fluid and gas. Now think of a joint of the body- there is a membrane,filled with fluid and gas. The "cracking noise" is simply the release of gas in a joint when moved,much like when you open a can of soda. Can Chiropractors prescribe drugs?
No. Chiropractic is a safe alternative to drugs and surgery. It relies on the body's own mechanisms to heal. |
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