Chiropractic is a form of healthcare that focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing disorders related to the musculoskeletal system. Despite its widespread use and popularity, many misconceptions surround chiropractic care.
In this blog, we will discuss some of the common myths about chiropractic care.
Chiropractic Care is Only for Back Pain
While chiropractic care is often associated with treating back pain, it has also been used to treat various conditions, including headaches, neck pain, joint pain, pinched nerves, carpal tunnel syndrome, whiplash, disc herniations, and many more.
Chiropractors also focus on finding the underlying reason for the pain instead of just vying for symptom relief. One example may include a patient with neck pain. While the neck may be the primary driver of symptoms, that same patient may also have a job requiring them to sit all day at a desk. This can cause tight chest muscles, pulling the head forward and creating muscle tension at the base of the neck, leading to neck pain and headaches. A chiropractor would focus on getting that patient out of pain and working on exercises and ergonomics to prevent that pain from coming back. (If this sounds like you, check out our blog on sitting).
Chiropractic Care is Not Safe
One of the most common myths about chiropractic care. However, research has shown that chiropractic care is a safe and effective treatment option for musculoskeletal conditions. The risks associated with chiropractic care are very low, and serious complications are extremely rare. 1
Most adverse events typically involve muscle or joint soreness, often compared to an individual going to the gym and working out for the first time in a while. While all healthcare providers must have malpractice insurance (insurance covering the physician in the event of injury to a patient), chiropractors have some of the lowest malpractice insurance premiums in healthcare. This is a testament to the safety of care.
Chiropractic care is widely considered a safe alternative to surgery and prescription medication for pain relief.
Chiropractors Are Not Real Doctors
Most chiropractic colleges require a four-year undergraduate science degree before applying to their Doctor of Chiropractic program. These programs, on average, provide over 3,000 class hours in topics including anatomy, physiology, orthopedics, pathology, spinal manipulation, and radiology, with an additional 1600 hours spent in labs and clinics.
Maintenance of chiropractic state licenses also requires continuing education annually after graduation. Chiropractors are licensed healthcare professionals and undergo extensive training and education to become experts in the musculoskeletal system.
Chiropractic Care is Expensive 
Insurance companies have realized the cost-effectiveness of seeing a chiropractor compared to standard medical treatment and surgery, and most insurances provide varying levels of coverage. Our office also offers affordable treatment options and competitive pricing for office visits to make care accessible for everyone.
Please click here for a list of health insurance our office accepts.
Once You Start Seeing a Chiropractor, You Have To Keep Going Forever
Most musculoskeletal injuries are not a one-time fix. Like any other form of changes to your body (diet for trying to lose weight, physical therapy to change mechanics, braces to alter teeth positioning), chiropractic care works to change your body’s mechanics through a series of visits while providing you with proper home exercises to encourage those mechanics.
Our office employs regular re-examinations, comparing care results to the initial visit and monitoring for objective improvement in mechanics, muscle balance, and effect on day-to-day activities.
Once our patients achieve their health goals, we equip them with home exercises and ergonomic tips to prevent their problems from coming back. From there, we see some patients as needed (if they tweak something), and we see some patients regularly for maintenance care if they’d like to achieve long-term results.
Whether seeking relief from chronic pain or simply aiming for optimal health, your Livonia chiropractor guides you every step of the way. Contact our office to schedule an appointment by Clicking Here or giving us a call today: 734-427-6333