It’s not uncommon for there to be misconceptions about the Chiropractic profession. After all, it’s only about 100 years old. However, Chiropractic research has come a long way since that time and despite what you may have been told about Chiropractic, there are numerous studies showing significant and positive outcomes published in journals such as; Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapies (JMPT), Journal of the American Medical Association, Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, European Spine Journal, Journal of Physical Therapy Science, and the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine to name a few.

So today I would like to help open your eyes and share with you the top 7 lies you’ve probably been told about Chiropractic….

1. “Once you start going to a Chiropractor, you’ll need to go forever.”

This all depends on the person. While many people benefit from short-term Chiropractic care, regular care is like getting consistent exercise and eating a healthy diet. If you keep up with it, you will continue to benefit from it. You wouldn’t just see your dentist once and never return for routine check-ups. Most people would agree that regular dental care will ensure the health of your teeth. The same principle applies to Chiropractic care to keep the musculoskeletal system in optimal health.

2. “Chiropractors aren’t real doctors.”

Believe it or not, the curriculum of both the Chiropractic and Medical education are almost identical. Chiropractic students have in fact more classroom hours than medical students and spend more hours in the areas of Anatomy, Neurology, Diagnosis and Radiology. Chiropractors also take a 4-part national and state board examination and are required to complete up to 300 hours in a clinical setting working with real patients prior to licensure. The main difference between the two doctors is HOW they treat their patients. The Chiropractor uses physical modalities such as adjustments, stretches, myofascial therapy and exercises to address the origin of the problem whereas the Medical doctor is trained to prescribe a pharmacological solution.

3. “Adjustments are dangerous.”

Chiropractic adjustments are extremely safe and have been proven to be far safer than painkillers and other medications. The arguments over the safety concerns of neck adjustments have prompted a ton of research on the topic and the verdict of the most in-depth study with a 10-year patient sample shows no evidence of an increase in vertebral artery dissection risk with chiropractic, compared with medical management. What’s more worrisome is the annual deaths associated with the use of NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, etc) and prescription drugs in the United States alone ranges from 7,500-32,000! Chiropractors malpractice insurance premiums are minuscule in comparison to what medical doctors pay because Chiropractic care is safe.

4. “Children don’t need Chiropractic care.”

Kids are just like adults in that they experience many of the same traumas that we do. Firstly, birth trauma which pulls on the cervical spine during all delivery types causes the delicate nerves of the infant to become irritated. Chiropractic care has been known to help infants with a myriad of problems, with one being difficulty nursing due to limited neck mobility and research is confirming that infants and children are experiencing positive effects from adjustments such as less ear, eyes, nose and throat infections, improved sleep and behavior and cessation of crying and colicky behavior. As a child grows and develops they experience repetitive subtle traumas so having the spine adjusted will maintain the proper alignment during the future developmental years.

5. “Chiropractors only treat back and neck pain.”

If you’re looking for a drug free option to improve your overall health than you may want to consider Chiropractic care. It is often assumed that Chiropractic care is only effective in treating patients with neck and/or back pain and it’s unfortunate that this misconception is what limits so many people from experiencing the benefits of attaining better health naturally. Because the spinal column houses the nervous system which control so many aspects of our bodies, patients who receive Chiropractic care report improvements in other conditions such as headaches, digestive troubles, extremity conditions, sleep, allergies, or trouble sleeping. This news article in the U.S. News & World Report share some surprising conditions that Chiropractors treat.

• http://health.usnews.com/health-news/patient-advice/articles/2015/11/30/surprise-chiropractors-can-treat-these-5-conditions

6. “Chiropractic care is expensive.”

Because Chiropractic care is so effective in getting to the root cause of the problem, there is less likelihood of the condition becoming chronic therefore it would require less treatment in the long run. There are several published studies that state how Chiropractic care is more cost-effective than medical care by as much as 40%. For many conditions, Chiropractic care costs lower than the alternative which involve prescription drugs, hospitalization, surgery and post-surgical rehabilitation.

7. “Chiropractic care is ineffective.”

There are hundreds of studies in scientific journals proving the effectiveness of Chiropractic care in millions of people across the globe. It’s no wonder that more people are turning to Chiropractors, especially after they’ve had very little or no success with traditional medicine. The Journal of American Medical Association published a study where it was suggested that people with back pain try Chiropractic prior to considering surgery. Also, improvements in conditions such as headaches, frozen shoulder, hypertension, ear infections, colic and neurologic symptoms have been reported in other published studies. Chiropractic care works!