CHIROPRATIC
MYTHS
Over the years a number of myths pertaining to chiropractic have been created,
mostly by economic competitors and those with differing philosophies. While the
majority of myths have no basis, they do exist and cause some confusion to individuals
unfamiliar with chiropractic care.
Myth:
Spinal Adjustments Hurt
Answer: Quite the contrary. Many patients
feel instant relief immediately after their treatments.
In fact, most look forward to their chiropractic treatments.
In patients suffering from severe bouts of back or neck
pain, some discomfort may be experienced for obvious reasons,
however, for most patients this is not the case.
Myth:
Spinal Adjustments Are Dangerous
Answer: Chiropractic spinal adjustments
are extremely safe when performed by chiropractors. In
fact, chiropractic adjustments are among the safest treatments
for most back and neck problems. According to a 1993 Ontario
Ministry of Health commissioned study,
" There is no clinical or case-control study that demonstrates or even implies
that chiropractic spinal manipulation is unsafe in the treatment of low-back
pain. Some medical treatments are equally safe, but others are unsafe and generate
iatrogenic (doctor-induced) complications for low-back pain patients. Our reading
of the literature suggests that chiropractic manipulation is safer than medical
management of low-back pain."
Lead investigator
of the study, Pran Manga, Ph.D., however, did warn that spinal
adjustments performed by health care professionals other than
qualified doctors of chiropractic were potentially harmful and
less effective:
" Indeed, several existing medical therapies of low-back pain are generally
contraindicated on the basis of the existing clinical trials. There is also some
evidence in the literature to suggest that spinal manipulations are less safe
and less effective when performed by nonchiropractic professionals."
On December 8, 1994, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR)
of the US Department of Health and Human Services released clinical practice
guidelines for the management of acute low back pain. Their guidelines were
developed after extensive study of the diagnostic and treatment methods used
for acute low back pain. Their findings included:
- The risk
of serious complications from lumbar spinal manipulation is
rare;
- Conservative
treatment such as spinal manipulation should be pursued in
most cases before considering surgical intervention
- Prescription
drugs such as oral steroids, antidepressant medications and
colchicine are not recommended for acute low back problems.
Myth:
Chiropractic Doctors Lack Education Compared With Medical Doctors
Answer: The training and education endured by
chiropractors is extremely thorough and demanding, similar to that
of medical doctors with the exception of pharmacology and surgery.
Prior to entering chiropractic college, the aspiring chiropractor requires 2-4
years (depending on the college attended and the state one wishes to practice
in) of premed undergraduate studies. Once completed, the student must next complete
4-5 academic years of studies at a chiropractic college. This includes extensive
training in anatomy, physiology, pathology, neurology, radiology, differential
diagnosis, chiropractic adjustive techniques, biomechanics, and other health-related
studies.
In addition, prior to graduation each student must successfully complete several
hundred clinical hours of "real" patient management in a clinical
setting under professional supervision. Most chiropractic colleges also require
students
to partake in clinical externship programs which place them in actual chiropractic
offices, further enhancing their clinical practice skills.
Near or soon after graduation, the new doctors of chiropractic must successfully
complete rigorous National and State Board examinations prior to obtaining a
license to practice chiropractic. Once licensed, most states require that chiropractors
receive annual continuing education to ensure that a high level of competency
is maintained.
Myth:
Chiropractic Is Not Scientific
Answer: Chiropractors have always sought
to provide the safest and most effective healing methods
for their patients. In order to achieve this, the chiropractic
profession has been dedicated to conducting scientific
studies to improve their diagnostic methods and treatment
techniques. In the last 20 years chiropractic health care
has established an impressive array of scientific research
that demonstrates the efficacy, safety and cost effectiveness
of chiropractic care. There are many further studies currently
underway, and several have been performed by medical doctors
and government researchers in both the U.S. and a number
of other countries.
In fact, the chiropractic profession has accumulated a greater number of scientific
trials on chiropractic than the medical profession has accumulated for many
of the treatments rendered by medical doctors. According to David M. Edy, M.D.,
Ph.D., professor of health policy and management with Duke University, North
Carolina, only 15 percent of all medical interventions are supported by solid
scientific evidence. Paul G. Shekelle, M.D., M.P.H., of the RAND Corporation
made the following statement on ABC's 20/20:
" There are considerably more randomized controlled trials which show benefit
of this (chiropractic care) than there are for many, many other things which
physicians and neurosurgeons do all the time."
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