5 Chiropractic Myths Busted...#tbt

Myth #1: Chiropractors are not real doctors.


Chiropractors complete a 3-4 year graduate program where they receive a Doctorate of Chiropractic degree.  Most chiropractic school terms are divided into trimesters or quarters rather than semesters which require chiropractic students to attend school year round, thus allowing students to graduate in less than 4 years.  Recent comparisons show that chiropractic students log more classroom hours than medical students overall, as well as in several important areas of study, including anatomy, diagnosis, neurology, orthopedics and radiology. 

 

Myth #2: Chiropractors only treat back pain.

It is true that chiropractors most often treat back pain; however, we are very capable of treating so much more!  Here at Pro Chiropractic, we practice not only spinal care, but sports medicine as well.  We are trained to treat extremity injuries such as shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee and ankle, as well as a multitude of soft tissue problems like muscle strains and ligament sprains.  We offer state of the art technology to aid in treating injuries in and away from the spine.

 

Myth #3: Chiropractic is too expensive.

Studies show that chiropractic is more cost-effective when compared to medical care.  Chiropractic care focuses on conservative treatment such as adjustments and soft tissue treatments, whereas medical care focuses on more invasive treatment options such as injections, medication and surgery.  While medical doctors focus on your illness…Chiropractors will focus on your wellness!

 

Myth #4: Chiropractic adjustments hurt.

The chiropractic adjustment itself rarely hurts, in fact, it brings relief to patients.  However, if the patient tenses or does not relax during the adjustment, muscle soreness can follow.  An adjustment will correct any misalignments in the spine thus relieving pressure on the spinal nerves and ease pain due to the pressure.

 

Myth #5: Chiropractic care won’t work for me.

Everyone, from babies to elderly, can benefit from chiropractic care.  Chiropractic adjustments remove interference between the nervous system and the body, thus promoting proper movement and function.  There are many facets to chiropractic care including spinal adjustments, soft tissue work to relieve muscle tension and trigger points, therapeutic exercises and nutritional counseling, among other things. 

 

If you or someone you know in the Gallatin Valley area is looking for a chiropractor, please call Dr. Shea Stark with Pro Chiropractic at 406-388-9915 to schedule an appointment in our Belgrade, Manhattan, or Bozeman office.  Dr. Stark is a board certified chiropractor and the author of this blog post.  To learn more about Dr. Stark and the many benefits of chiropractic care, please visit our website: www.prochiromt.com.

What Type of Education do Chiropractors Receive?

Chiropractors are often asked…”Are you a real doctor?”  The answer to that question is a resounding YES!  Do chiropractors receive medical degrees?  No.  But they do receive a Doctor of Chiropractic or D.C. degree. 

Chiropractors, like medical doctors, are required to have a pre-medical undergraduate background before entering their graduate program.  Depending on the chiropractic school, the graduate program may take three or four years to complete.  Some chiropractic schools are attended year-round in trimesters and some in quarters or semesters.  There are currently 18 accredited chiropractic schools in the United States. 

The pre-medical undergraduate education needed to qualify for chiropractic school includes classes in biology, inorganic and organic chemistry, physics, psychology, and related lab work.  Once admitted into chiropractic school, the curriculum becomes more clinical and specific to chiropractic needs.  “Because of the hands-on nature of chiropractic, and the intricate adjusting techniques, a significant portion of time is spent in clinical training.” (https://www.acatoday.org/content_css.cfm?CID=746)

“Like other primary health care doctors, chiropractic students spend a significant portion of their curriculum studying clinical subjects related to evaluating and caring for patients. Typically, as part of their professional training, they must complete a minimum of a one-year clinical-based program dealing with actual patient care. In total, the curriculum includes a minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical experience. The course of study is approved by an accrediting agency which is fully recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. This has been the case for more than 25 years.” (https://www.acatoday.org/content_css.cfm?CID=746).

 

In subjects such as anatomy, clinical diagnosis, neurology, orthopedics, and radiology, the education of a chiropractor exceeds that of a medical doctor.  This fact gives chiropractors a significant advantage over medical doctors when it comes to discovering the cause of an issue rather than just treating the symptoms on the surface.  These areas of advanced study are what qualify chiropractors as musculoskeletal experts and what allows us to rise above other professions when treating musculoskeletal conditions.

After receiving a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, chiropractors are required to complete continuing education every year in order to remain in good standing with the state licensing board.  The amount of continuing education required is determined by the state in which the chiropractor is licensed.  The chiropractors in Montana are required to complete 13 hours of continuing education per year, however the chiropractors at Pro Chiropractic strive to complete significantly more.  Often totaling more than three or four times the required amount per year, we are always searching for new topics to learn about so we can better serve our patients. 

If you or someone you know in the Gallatin Valley area is looking for a chiropractor, please call Dr. Shea Stark with Pro Chiropractic at 406-219-2462 to schedule an appointment in our Belgrade, Manhattan, or Bozeman office.  Dr. Stark is a board certified chiropractor and the author of this blog post.  To learn more about Dr. Stark and the many benefits of chiropractic care, please visit our website: www.prochiromt.com.