Ever wondered if those things you’ve heard about chiropractic care are true? You may have also heard some common myths that have made you skeptical about trying it out. Well we’re here to give you the facts so you can make the best choice for your health. Here are six of the most common myths about chiropractic care.

Myth 1: Chiropractic treatment is dangerous and can cause strokes

Research shows that there is no excess risk of stroke after chiropractic care. You pose the same risk as you would going to your PCP and receiving the intervention they prescribe.

Chiropractic treatment is a natural and holistic type of treatment. Chiropractors assess each patient and their injury or area of pain. Then they create a customized treatment plan based on the patient’s current symptoms and medical history. Chiropractors use holistic treatments to help promote the body’s natural ability to heal itself. They are completely safe and effective.

Choosing chiropractic treatment over other types of treatment can also help you avoid serious complications. This includes surgery, adverse reactions, infections, blood clots, or even death. Chiropractic treatment is also drug-free. A chiropractor will never prescribe you pain pills to treat pain. Relying on pain medication is often dangerous because it can lead to drug-dependency issues and other serious complications. 

Myth 2: Cracking my knuckles and joints will cause arthritis

Let’s get the facts straight first. Did you know the popping sound is actually the release of a gas bubble inside the joint? Which means there is no correlation with cracking your joints leading to arthritis.

What we do know about arthritis from scientific studies is that when joints are immobilized or not moving through their usual range of motion the joint cartilage begins to breakdown. There can also be loss of muscle tissue around the joint.

After 12 weeks of immobilization, the pre-arthritic changes don’t go away. This means getting spinal adjustments not only can help you feel better but keep the spine moving. This decreases the risk for arthritis and likeliness of pain.

Myth 3: Chiropractors are not real doctors and are not properly trained and educated

This is false. A chiropractor is required to have a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree. This is a postgraduate professional degree that takes 4 years to complete. Three years of undergraduate courses are required to apply to schools of chiropractic. However, most students complete their undergraduate degrees before enrolling in their postgraduate program.  

A chiropractic doctorate program includes classwork in anatomy, physiology, biology, and similar subjects. The main difference between chiropractors and medical doctors is the time spent in pharmacology. While medical doctors spend a lot of time in pharmacology, chiropractors mainly focus on anatomy, biomechanics, physical therapy and manual adjustment techniques.

Medical doctors and chiropractors are required to have the same average class hour load.

In addition, all states require chiropractors to be licensed and pass a national board exam. Similar to medical residencies and internships, chiropractors can participate in specific rotations or preceptorships.

Once a doctor of chiropractic is established in a practice, many also continuing their education with various certifications and courses. Specific types of treatments such as dry needling, cupping, pregnancy-related care all require individual courses and exams to receive accreditation and certification to practice that treatment.

Myth 4: Chiropractors think they can cure everything

Although we believe that alternative or holistic medicine and treatments can have huge benefits for a variety of injuries or pain, we understand that it can’t cure everything. Chiropractors are excellent in treating spine-related conditions as well as conditions associated with the extremities (knees and shoulders).

Chiropractic care cannot cure all diseases or illnesses, but certain types treatments are good at relieving associated pain. They can also offer stress relief and injury prevention.

Myth 5: Chiropractic treatment is expensive and not covered by insurance

In 4.2 million episodes of spine-related conditions, when someone starts with the chiropractor the total cost of care is the lowest across the board. This means there are less drugs, surgeries, injections, and visits to other type of providers.

As a bonus, chiropractic treatments are typically 40% less than other types of providers. Many chiropractors do work with insurance companies and allow you to use your benefits.

In addition, some chiropractors may offer affordable self-pay options and interest free payment plans. If you’ve been in an auto-accident or have a worker’s compensation claim, you may be eligible to work with an attorney to have your treatment covered by worker’s compensation or auto insurance. 

Myth 6: Chiropractic care goes on forever and ineffective

Chiropractic care is all about getting to the root cause of the issue. It uses evidence-based techniques to not only reduce symptoms but to correct any intolerance causing the injury. It can also help strengthen the surrounding areas to avoid re-injury in the future.

Studies have also shown that maintenance care is effective in decreasing recurrent rates of injury or pain.

Look for a chiropractor that gives you an evidenced-based treatment plan. This plan should sound reasonable and provide a multi-modal approach for the most effective recovery. They should also provide you with an end date to your treatment plan and provide check-ins along the way.

Just as you schedule wellness visits to the dentist or doctor, checking in with the chiropractor every few months is a great way to ensure spinal health. However, it is never necessary and you shouldn’t feel obligated to make any appointment you don’t feel necessary.

Get Treated at Kaizo Health  

Our goal at Kaizo Health is to always get you back to feeling 100%. Our doctors provide treatment to help you be pain-free. We also have a dedicated team that will work with you and your insurance. We want to make sure you get the most from your benefits. You should experience relief for as little cost to you as possible. If you are ready to experience relief from the pain, make an appointment to see us now.       

Kaizo Health offers locations in Rockville, MD; Landover, MD; Fort Washington, MD; and Fairfax, VA. Our doctors an evidence-based approach by combining chiropractic care and individualized rehabilitative exercises. We provide the treatment and resources you need to recover your health. We are here to help! If you’d like more information, check out our blog. You can also take our free virtual self-assessment on app here.Fac