Myths & Facts
There are many rumors out there talking about the capabilities and limitations of chiropractic care, but only a hand-full of these are remotely accurate. Hopefully, we can clear up some of the foggy claims. Call Thomson Chiropractic Center with any questions you may have.
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MYTH #1: CHIROPRACTORS ARE NOT REAL DOCTORS.
A Doctorate of Chiropractic degree is earned from an accredited college following completion of an undergraduate degree. The chiropractic curriculum is extremely rigorous: in fact, chiropractors have more classroom hours than medical doctors (4,485 classroom hours compared to 4,248, according to Center for Studies in Health Policy, Inc., Washington, DC. Personal communication of 1995 unpublished data from Meredith Gonyea, Ph.D.). A clinical internship of 1 year is also completed, where students work with real patients under the guidance and leadership of licensed doctors of chiropractic. Upon completion of school, students must pass four sets of national board exams. Your chiropractor is a primary contact provider just like your family physician, optometrist, or dentist.
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MYTH #2: ONCE YOU START CHIROPRACTIC CARE, YOU HAVE TO GO FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
The choice of health is always yours to make. Most of our patients choose to continue consistent chiropractic care because of the health benefits they receive, just like most people choose to brush their teeth regularly. Lifelong chiropractic care is never mandatory or required. Dr. Story periodically offers treatment plans that are customized for your specific condition. With this being said, there are no high-pressure sales tactics in this office. As a patient of Dr. Story's if you choose to come one visit at a time or only until you are out of pain (relief care), we are happy to have you. It is our job to inform you as to what is best for you. What you do with the information is up to you.
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MYTH #3: PEOPLE CAN ADJUST THEMSELVES BY CRACKING THEIR NECK OR BACK.
The only things we crack are jokes and eggs. A chiropractic adjustment is a specific modification of a subluxation, or joint misalignment. During certain adjustments, a sound or “cavitation” is heard, but not always. When the adjustment is made, joint spaces are opened which creates an expansion of air and gas, causing a sound. A chiropractor is trained to be specific in the adjustment, but when done by one’s self, the joint is being taken through nonspecific motion, which can cause serious harm. While you can recreate this sound, “self-adjusting” is extremely dangerous and should always be avoided.
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MYTH #4: CHIROPRACTIC IS ONLY FOR ADULTS.
No person is too young to be checked by a chiropractor and adjusted when necessary. In our office, infants are checked as soon as practical after birth, as subluxations (misalignments) of the upper vertebrae can occur during the birth process. Monitoring and managing nervous system function and spinal alignment can assist infants and children with problems such as colic, reflux, asthma, head tilt, ear infections, and constipation.
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MYTH #5: SPINAL ADJUSTMENTS HURT.
Normally, spinal adjustments will not hurt at all. In fact, most Practice Members experience a great sense of relief during adjustments. Depending on the condition and severity of subluxations, along with other factors like swelling, muscle tightness, inflammation, and duration of time between adjustments, some discomfort may be expected during and following an adjustment. Similar to being sore after working out for the first time in a while, it is normal and short-lived, and we will work with you to help your adjustments go as smoothly as possible.