Frequently Asked Questions

 

What is chiropractic?

 

Chiropractic is a health profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders 

 

of the musculoskeletal system, and the effects of those disorders on the nervous system and general 

 

health. It is a natural, drug-free, non-surgical approach to health care. The profession's central interest 

 

has always been the relationship between impaired mechanics of the spinal vertebrae and the nervous 

 

system.

 

 

How is chiropractic adjustment performed?

 

Chiropractic adjustment or manipulation is a manual procedure that utilizes the highly defined 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. The chiropractor adapts the procedure to meet the specific needs of each 

 

patient. Patients often note positive changes in their symptoms immediately following treatment.

 

 

Is chiropractic treatment ongoing?

 

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 preventative 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.

 

 

Is chiropractic treatment appropriate for children?

 

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.

 

 

What does a chiropractor treat?

 

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.

 

 

Do insurance plans cover chiropractic?

 

Many health insurance plans include coverage for chiropractic services. For example, the federal 

 

government's Office of Personnel Management offers chiropractic coverage for federal employees in 

 

the Mail Handlers and BCBS benefit plans. In addition, there is a chiropractic benefit in Federal 

 

Workers' Compensation. Chiropractic care is available to members of the armed forces at more than 40 

 

military bases and nearly 30 veterans' medical facilities.

 

 

What kind of education does a chiropractor have?

 

Chiropractors are educated as primary contact health care practitioners with an emphasis on 

 

musculoskeletal diagnosis and treatment. Education 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. 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.