Myths about Chiropractic Care

For some individuals, chiropractic care is an integral part of their life. They may have been introduced to a chiropractor when they were younger for an injury or perhaps later on in life because a friend or family member regularly sees a chiropractor. However, there are individuals who may never have seen a chiropractor but may have heard from others about what a chiropractor does.

As a chiropractor, one of the most common myths I hear from patients who have never seen a chiropractor is that all we do is adjust or ‘crack’ patients. Well, sure. Chiropractors can offer spinal manipulative adjustments if it’s warranted. However, that is not the only thing chiropractors do.

Chiropractors, not unlike your dentist or optometrist, are doctors. We have a doctorate that focuses on musculoskeletal conditions with an emphasis on neurology, anatomy, physiology and biomechanics. When we see a patient for the first time, we conduct a thorough history and physical examination to determine/diagnose the issue and then provide a plan of management that could incorporate spinal manipulative therapy.

However, spinal manipulative therapy is not the only course of care potentially offered to a patient. Not unlike a physiotherapist, chiropractors can provide a variety of different treatment options that can include but are not limited to:

• mobilization of joints (without the adjustment),
• strength and conditioning exercises,
• ergonomic modifications of workstations,
• custom orthotics for gait/feet issues,
• the use of modalities such as ultrasound, electrotherapy (TENS, IFC), acupuncture, shockwave therapy and aqua therapy

It’s now quite common to see chiropractors working in multidisciplinary settings alongside physiotherapists, massage therapists, acupuncturists, medical doctors, registered dietitians etc. as our care is complementary to these other healthcare professions.

So the next time you are experiencing musculoskeletal pain such as back pain, neck pain, shoulder or knee issues, consider making a chiropractor part of your healthcare team.