Millions of people visit a chiropractor every year, yet many people have questions and misconceptions about chiropractic care. Today we are discussing five of the common myths we come across in the clinic. 

1. Once you see a chiropractor you have to keep going back

This is false. A chiropractor will perform an assessment including a history and physical examination to determine the cause of your pain and/or dysfunction. A diagnosis will be made with a treatment plan that the chiropractor deems appropriate based on the patient’s condition and goals. The treatment plan will recommend a number of treatments and a scheduled re-evaluation to see if the patient is responding well to care. The recommended number of treatments can vary depending on each patient. 

Many people accept pain, discomfort, and stiffness as normal when this should not be the case. After going through an initial course of care many patients will choose to incorporate chiropractic into their prevention strategy. 

2. A medical doctor must refer you to a chiropractor

Chiropractors are legislated as primary contact healthcare professionals in every province in Canada which means you can access them directly without a referral. Chiropractors are trained to be diagnosticians and will perform a comprehensive assessment to help determine a diagnosis or clinical impression. If we determine you are not a good candidate for chiropractic care at that time, we will make sure you get the right care by making the appropriate referral to another healthcare professional. 

3. You only need to go to the chiropractor when you are in pain or injured

Pain is only one symptom and the absence of pain does not mean there are no issues that need to be addressed. A chiropractor will assess your function, looking for areas of imbalances and asymmetry. As mentioned above, many patients choose to incorporate chiropractic care into their prevention strategy.

4. Chiropractors can only treat spinal pain

Chiropractors are musculoskeletal (MSK) experts and are trained in assessing, diagnosing, treating, and preventing biomechanical disorders that originate from the muscular, skeletal, and nervous systems. Chiropractors are known for treating neck and back pain however we can also assess and treat other areas of the body and there is evidence that supports chiropractic management of the extremities, headaches, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain. The human body is complex and sometimes your pain can be originating from different areas of the body, therefore your chiropractor will do a comprehensive assessment to give you an accurate diagnosis of your condition. 

5. Adjustments are painful

Generally, adjustments or joint manipulations do not hurt, and many patients will report immediate pain relief following an adjustment. Patients may sometimes be nervous about the popping sound that may occur during an adjustment. The sound that is heard comes from the release of gas bubbles from the joint. The goal of an adjustment is to help restore proper movement and function to the joints of the spine or extremities.

 

If you want to know more about chiropractic care or find out if chiropractic is right for you, contact us via email or phone.

 

Post by: Dr. Shannon Webster, Chiropractor