Q. & A. about Chiropractic
IS THE CHIROPRACTOR A DOCTOR?
Yes, Chiropractors earn a D.C.(Doctor of Chiropractic) from a federally accredited college. A minimum of six years of education to become a doctor of chiropractic is required by law. The doctor of chiropractic first spends at a college or university. Then the doctor attends a college of chiropractic for four more academic years (which can be obtained in three calendar years in a year-round full-time trimester system). Besides the rigorous classroom studies during the last two years, chiropractors must serve as an extern at an outpatient clinic achieving minimum requirements in serving many patients. The doctor of chiropractic studies all the basic sciences as well as the chiropractic clinical sciences and must pass 100% of the rigorous "National Board" examinations. In addition a doctor of chiropractic must then pass the rigid State Board of Chiropractic examination before being issued a license to practice.
HOW CAN THE SPINE BE A CAUSE OF ILLNESS?
The spine is made up of 24 individual movable bones called vertebrae stacked on top of the sacrum. This spinal structure is the major support for the body and encases and protects the entire spinal cord. Billions of nerves form this spinal cord, and then branch off to form the spinal nerves that extend through the small opening between these vertebrae, carrying vital, life controlling nerve impulses from the brain to every part of the body. These nerve impulses, or messages from the brain, coordinate and control all the body's organs and parts. A distortion or misalignment (more accurately and scientifically called a Vertebral Subluxation Complex or VSC) of one or more of these vertebrae can irritate or adversely affect the spinal nerves, muscles, blood vessels, lymphatics, etc. and result in a serious health-robbing, damaging interference to normal nerve control of your body. Since the brain controls all parts of your body through the nervous system, VSC can also lower your body's resistance, which could render you susceptible to contagious and infectious illness and disease.
DO CHIROPRACTORS USE DRUGS IN PATIENT CARE?
No. Since most drugs only temporarily block pain or artificially stimulate a specific bodily function, which merely masks or distorts symptoms and have side effects in the process, chiropractors choose to use other natural methods to relieve pain and restore health. Chiropractic recognizes the possible benefits from drugs, but has chosen to refer to the medical profession for this type of care. Keep in mind that covering up symptoms may keep you from getting the proper treatments needed to correct the underlying cause of your pain. Turning off a fire alarm does not put out the fire! Chiropractic searches for, finds, and reduces causes. Your doctor of chiropractic understands that only nature heals, and will use only natural means to restore health.
DO CHIROPRACTORS EXAMINE OR X-RAY?
Yes. There are usually two phases to a chiropractic examination. First, a detailed case history will be taken during the first visit. The results will indicate to your doctor whether or not your condition is likely to respond to chiropractic care. Additionally, there may be a need for certain other examinations, such as:
Orthopedic - to find bones and joints out of place // Neurological - to find nerve pressure or irritations // Physical - to determine general health vitality // Spinal - to find specific misalignments or subluxations of vertebrae // Kinesiological - to find abnormal muscle tone which cann pull on bones and joints // Radiological - to evaluate X-rays for specific misaliignments and subluxations, as well as other health determinations.
The results of the total examination help identify the cause of your condition and allow your doctor of chiropractic to determine the appropriate treatment necessary to obtain the fastest relief and the most permanent correction possible.
WHAT DO CHIROPRACTORS TREAT?
Basically, chiropractors reduce VSC (subluxations) by adjustments. Adjustment is the name given to a precise method of realigning misaligned body structure, particularly the spinal vertebrae. This method is especially helpful in alleviating: headaches, backaches, pain and stiffness in neck, pain between shoulders, pain in hips or legs, pain, numbness in hands & feet, pain in shoulders or arms, muscular pains in chest, abdomen
Every function in your entire body is under the control of the nervous system and subluxations can interfere with this control, so chiropractic is often very helpful in relieving many other conditions. Only a chiropractor is qualified to determine if your condition can be helped by chiropractic methods. Of course, if yours is not a chiropractic case, chiropractic will not help you, and your chiropractor will tell you so and refer to another specialist. But if yours is a chiropractic condition, nothing else is likely to ever really help you.
ARE ADJUSTMENTS PAINFUL?
No. Most spinal adjustments are not painful or even uncomfortable. As a matter of fact, most patients report they feel very good and often free of pain almost immediately. Adjustments are also very safe with no harmful or dangerous side effects. To give an adjustment the chiropractor locates the subluxation, determines the direction of distortion and skillfully moves that vertebra or bone back into its normal position and state of mobility. In most cases making contact in a very special manner, usually with the hands, directly over the affected vertebra or other bone, and making a gentle movement do this. You can be sure that the great benefits you will receive from chiropractic adjustments will more than offset any momentary discomfort you may experience, if any.
HOW PERMANENT ARE THE RESULTS?
Chiropractic locates and relieves the nerve interference causing many health problems. When the nervous system is restored to normal function, the body will cure itself: that's the chiropractic premise. Therefore, chiropractic results are usually long lasting. However, you must recognize the possibility that a repetition of the same or similar habits, occupational hazards, falls, accidents, or other traumas can cause a recurrence of the condition. Your conscientious compliance with your doctor's recommendations, especially between adjustments, and your follow-through with maintenance care and periodic spinal examinations after your initial, concentrated, intensive care is completed, will contribute greatly to the permanence of the correction and your future good health.
How Well Educated is your Doctor of Chiropractic?
Chiropractic compared to Medical Education
Chiropractic Classroom hours Medical Classroom hours
Anatomy & Embryology 540 508
Physiology 240 326
Pathology 360 401
Chemistry 165 325
Microbiology 120 114
Diagnosis 630 324
Neurology 320 112
X-Ray 360 148
Psychiatry 60 144
Obstetrics & Gynecology 60 148
Orthopedics 210 156
Total Hours 2,887 2,706
Texas Chiropractic College is the Future of Health Care!