| MYTH ONE: Chiropractors are not real doctors
Actually, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, chiropractors actually attend more hours of education than a typical M.D. The course studies are actually very similar at their core. Later on in their studies, medical doctors study pharmacology and chiropractors study adjustment techniques and physiology. Typically, a chiropractor must have a Bachelor's Degree as well as a Doctorate. After that, he or she has to pass four Board tests and often a State exam after that. If the chiropractic doctor wants to add a physical therapist, as is often the case, there's another Board exam for that. Chiropractors need to be licensed in the same way as any other doctor. Chiropractors are certainly real doctors in every sense of the word. It is not a chiropractor’s education or training that sets him apart from a medical doctor.
So what is the primary difference between an M.D. and a chiropractor?
While both may employ similar methods of making a diagnosis, the difference lies in treatment. A medical doctor seeks out and treats disease with either medication or surgery or a combination of the two. A chiropractor, on the other hand, doesn't treat disease. Rather, he or she treats dis-ease, the lack of freedom of movement in the spine that causes disease. Certain symptoms, such as headaches, back pain ad muscle spasms are caused by a physical problem- the subluxation in the vertebra of the spine. Chiropractors use a variety of treatments including adjustments, exercises, stretching and muscle therapy.
MYTH TWO – There is no Scientific Research to Back up Chiropractic medicine
Unfortunately, this myth is believed by a lot of people. The truth is, however, that chiropractic is supported by empirical data that proves it is beneficial in reducing injuries, surgeries and overall medical costs for a growing abundance of people. Chiropractors are very careful to document and research their standards in treatment in order to continue to advance the field. Independent research is very supportive of chiropractic medicine. Paul G. Shekelle, M.D., M.P.H., of the prestigious RAND Corporation, the non-profit research organization that conducts research on important and complicated problems, has made the following statement on ABC's 20/20:
"There are considerably more randomized controlled trials which show benefit of this (chiropractic care) than there are for many, many other things which physicians and neurosurgeons do all the time."
Chiropractic medicine has progressively accumulated more and more scientific research supporting its' effectiveness and its' safety.
MYTH THREE – Chiropractic medicine is too expensive and it is not covered by health insurance
Actually, studies that have proven the scientific foundation of chiropractic medicine have also proven the cost-effectiveness of the practice. Particularly in the area of low back pain and injuries, chiropractic medicine has been shown to reduce overall costs of treatment, and prevention of relapse.
Most major insurance plans have also accepted chiropractic medicine as a mainstream health care choice for primary care and treatment. Because chiropractic medicine is now routinely covered by insurance, under most insurance plans a client no longer needs to first obtain a referral from a medical doctor before seeking chiropractic care. Check your own health insurance policy and you are likely to be pleasantly surprised that your chiropractic health care is a permitted expense.
These are three of the most common medical myths regarding chiropractic care that are simply untrue. There are other myths and fallacies about chiropractic medicine and there are still people who do not understand the truth of the value of chiropractic medicine. But as the research and studies continue, as insurance companies and other doctors validate chiropractic and especially as patients continue to benefit from this holistic type of health care, these myths and others are being proved false. Chiropractic medicine has truly become an accepted mainstream arm of health care.
MYTH FOUR - Chiropractic adjustments will cause you to have a stroke.
This myth is not only false; it creates unnecessary fear and reluctance to try chiropractic health care. The facts about strokes are very clear and quite surprising: your chances of having a stroke from chiropractic care are about the same as your chances of being hit by lightning. In fact, your risk of having a stroke from the daily aspirin you may be taking to prevent a heart attack is about 70,000 times greater than your risk of having a stroke from a chiropractic adjustment. You are 37,000 times more likely to have a stroke from no known reason at all than you are from chiropractic health care. Do your body a favor and don’t buy into to this myth. There is no science to back it up. Be certain that your chiropractor
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