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What conditions do
chiropractors treat? |
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Chiropractic is a health
care profession that focuses on disorders of
the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system,
and the effects of these disorders on general
health. Chiropractic care is used most often to
treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including but
not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the
joints of the arms or legs, and headaches.
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Does
chiropractic treatment require a referral from an
MD? |
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No, a patient does not
need a referral by an MD before visiting a doctor of
chiropractic. Chiropractors are first contact
physicians, and are so defined in federal and state
regulations. Following a consultation and
examination, the doctor of chiropractic will arrive
at a diagnosis under chiropractic care, or refer the
patient to the appropriate health care provider. |
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Is
chiropractic treatment safe? |
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Chiropractic is widely
recognized as one of the safest drug-free,
non-invasive therapies available for the treatment
of neuromusculoskeletal complaints. Although
chiropractic has an excellent safety record, no
health treatment is completely free of potential
adverse effects. |
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The risks associated
with chiropractic, however, are very small. Many
patients feel immediate relief following
chiropractic treatment, but some may experience mild
soreness or aching, just as they do after some forms
of exercise. Current literature shows that minor
discomfort or soreness following spinal manipulation
typically fades within 24 hours. |
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Neck pain and some types
of headaches are treated through precise cervical
manipulation. Cervical manipulation, often called a
neck adjustment, works to improve joint mobility in
the neck, restoring range of motion and reducing
muscle spasm, which helps relieve pressure and
tension. |
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Neck manipulation is a
remarkably safe procedure. While some reports have
associated upper high-velocity neck manipulation
with a certain kind of stroke, or vertebral artery
dissection, there is not yet a clear understanding
of the connection. The occurrence appears to be very
rare—1 in 5.85 million manipulations— based on the
clinical reports and scientific studies to date. If
you are visiting your doctor of chiropractic with
upper-neck pain or headache, be very specific about
your symptoms. This will help your doctor of
chiropractic offer the safest and most effective
treatment, even if it involves referral to another
health care provider. |
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It is important for
patients to understand the risks associated with
some of the most common treatments for
musculoskeletal pain -- prescription and
over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDS) -- as these treatments may carry
risks significantly greater than those of
chiropractic manipulation. According to a study from
the American Journal of Gastroenterology,
approximately one-third of all hospitalizations and
deaths related to gastrointestinal bleeding can be
attributed to the use of aspirin or NSAID
painkillers like ibuprofen. |
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Is
chiropractic treatment appropriate for children? |
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Yes, children can benefit from chiropractic care.
Children are very physically active and experience
many types of falls and blows from activities of
daily living as well as from participating in
sports. Injuries such as these may cause many
symptoms including back and neck pain, stiffness,
soreness or discomfort. Chiropractic care is always
adapted to the individual patient. It is a highly
skilled treatment, and in the case of children, very
gentle. |
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Are
chiropractors allowed to practice in hospitals or
use medical outpatient facilities? |
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Chiropractors are being
recognized to admit and treat patients in hospitals
and to use outpatient clinical facilities (such as
labs, x-rays, etc.) for their non-hospitalized
patients. Hospital privileges were first granted in
1983. |
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Do
insurance plans cover chiropractic? |
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The majority of all
insured American workers have coverage for
chiropractic services in their health care plans.
For example, the federal government’s
Office of Personnel
Management offers
chiropractic coverage for federal employees in both
the Mail Handlers and BCBS benefit plans. In
addition, there is a chiropractic benefit in Federal
Workers’ Compensation, and chiropractic care is
available to members of the armed forces at more
than 40 military bases, and is available at nearly
30 veterans’ medical facilities. |
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What
type of education and training do chiropractors
have? |
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Chiropractors are educated as primary contact health
care practitioners, with an emphasis on
musculoskeletal diagnosis and treatment.
Educational requirements for doctors of chiropractic
are among the most stringent of any of the health
care professions. The typical applicant at a
chiropractic college has already acquired nearly
four years of pre-medical undergraduate college
education, including courses in biology, inorganic
and organic chemistry, physics, psychology and
related lab work. Once accepted into an accredited
chiropractic college, the requirements become even
more demanding — four to five academic years of
professional study are the standard. Because of the
hands-on nature of chiropractic, and the intricate
adjusting techniques, a significant portion of time
is spent in clinical training. |
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In total, the
chiropractic curriculum includes a minimum of 4,200
hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical
experience. The course of study is approved by an
accrediting agency that is fully recognized by the
U.S. Department of Education. |
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How
is a chiropractic adjustment performed? |
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Chiropractic adjustment or manipulation is a manual
procedure that utilizes the highly refined skills
developed during the intensive years of chiropractic
education. The chiropractor typically uses his/her
hands to manipulate the joints of the body,
particularly the spine, in order to reduce pain, and
restore or enhance joint function. Chiropractic
manipulation is a highly controlled procedure that
rarely causes discomfort. The chiropractor adapts
the procedure to meet the specific needs of each
patient. Patients often note positive changes in
their symptoms immediately following treatment. |
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Is
chiropractic treatment ongoing? |
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The hands-on nature of the chiropractic treatment is
essentially what requires patients to visit the
chiropractor a number of times. To be treated by a
chiropractor, a patient needs to be in his or her
office. In contrast, a course of treatment from
medical doctors often involves a pre-established
plan that is conducted at home (i.e. taking a course
of antibiotics once a day for a couple of weeks). A
chiropractor may provide acute, chronic, and/or
preventive care thus making a certain number of
visits sometimes necessary. Your doctor of
chiropractic should tell you the extent of treatment
recommended and how long you can expect it to last. |
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Why
is there a popping sound when a joint is adjusted? |
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Adjustment of a joint may result in release of a gas
bubble between the joints that makes a popping sound
– it’s exactly the same as when you “crack” your
knuckles. The noise is caused by the change of
pressure within the joint that results in gas
bubbles being released. There is no pain involved. |
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Source:
The American Chiropractic Association (ACA), 2009 |
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