11.5 Myths About Chiropractic Expose

People experiencing neck pain often turn to chiropractic care for help. Some swear by chiropractic physicians, saying the work they perform not only relieves pain, but also addresses the source of their pain rather than covering it up with drugs. There are more than 60,000 licensed chiropractic physicians in the United States today, and about 8 percent of American adults and 3 percent of children have had chiropractic care to treat their pain, according to a recent survey. That's a higher percentage than those who use other alternative therapies like yoga, massage, and acupuncture.

Chiropractic: How Neck Pain Is Treated
The word chiropractic is from the Greek words for hand (cheir) and action (praxis) -

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primarily use their hands to treat muscle, joint, and nerve pain by adjusting the spine and any joints in the body that need it. Adjustments involve the chiropractic physician applying controlled gentle, relaxing force to a joint, pushing the joint into a more correct place. This is intended to loosen up joints that are restricted or painfully due to tissue damage or scarring caused by either trauma or repetitive stress. An example of trauma causing neck pain is whiplash, while a repetitive stress injury could be from consistently poor posture.

For neck pain in particular, chiropractic neck adjustments, called cervical manipulation, loosen up the joints of the cervical vertebrae in the neck, and this can reduce pain caused by pinched nerves and muscle spasms. Chiropractic physicians use their hands to twist the neck sharply and snap the vertebrae back into alignment.

Chiropractic: Finding a Practitioner
Chiropractic physicians are trained to diagnose patients through physical exams, x-rays if needed as well diagnostic tests. Treatment plans may include neck exercises to do on your own and suggestions for a healthier lifestyle; chiropractic physicians do not prescribe medication as part of their treatment. Practicing chiropractic physicians in the United States are required to receive a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from a properly accredited college. Admission to a chiropractic college requires three years of undergraduate work. Chiropractic College is a four-year, year round program, during which the chiropractic physicians-in-training will learn in the classroom and provide hands-on care to patients. For specialized training, chiropractic physicians undertake an additional two- or three-year residency.

When evaluating a chiropractic physician, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine suggests asking about the professional's licensing and training, and whether that training included the specific problem you're experiencing.