Many people continuously ask how chiropractors contribute to overall healthcare and how they can improve their health.

It’s likely you will find a chiropractor in your area so here are some common myths and misconceptions about chiropractors that you should know.

1. Once You Make A Visit You Need To Keep Going Back

It’s completely false. Once you contact a chiropractor, he/she will do an assessment which includes your medical history and a physical examination to find out the cause of dysfunction or pain. Next, he/she will come up with a diagnosis and develop a good treatment plan with your own contribution to meet your goals and needs as the patient. You will make a few initial visits to the chiropractor so that he/she can see if you’re responding to the treatment plan.

If necessary, then re-evaluations will be scheduled for later. Depending on your condition and your medical history, the recommended course of action might vary but you’re the one to decide if you want to continue with care. However, if you have any concerns or questions about the chiropractic care being offered to you, ask the chiropractor about it. As mentioned, the treatment plan should be a mutual decision between you and the chiropractor.

2. Chiropractors Are Not Real Doctors

Chiropractors have been regulated in the 10 Canadian provinces. They can use the title doctor just like optometrists, physicians and dentists once they complete their degree program, Doctor Of Chiropractic, an extensive program. Note that, any medical practitioner authorized to use the designation ‘doctor’ has had extensive training in their specific area of expertise allowing them to provide a proper diagnosis of different conditions.

3. A Medical Doctor Has To Refer A Chiropractor

Everywhere in Canada, chiropractors are viewed as primary contact providers meaning you can access them on your own without referrals. Remember, they have had extensive training as diagnosticians thus they can perform a good assessment to determine what’s ailing you. Upon receiving the results, the chiropractor will recommended a good treatment plan or refer you to another healthcare professional. There are some cases where you need to get a medical doctors referral to access coverage which is highly dependent on your benefits provider.

4. No Evidence To Support The Effectiveness Of Chiropractic Care

Many people often question whether or not chiropractic care is effective. Remember, in the chiropractic care niche, many notable bodies have used a lot of resources to create a robust body to study the effects of manual therapies on musculoskeletal conditions. For instance, joint and spinal manipulations have been proven to be the best treatment for chronic musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain. Spinal manipulative therapy is the first type of chiropractic treatment for any back pain proposed by numerous boards in this niche.

5. Chiropractors Can Only Treat Back Pain

Chiropractors are experts in musculoskeletal conditions and can assess, diagnose and treat various disorders as well as prevent those originating from the skeletal, muscular and nervous system. Besides the evidence supporting the benefits of chiropractic care with MSK conditions in the spine, it has also been proven to be successful in managing the extremities, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain and headaches.

In their profession, chiropractors can provide counseling about fitness, nutrition and ergonomics and many other issues that can manage or prevent numerous health conditions. The health of your body doesn’t start and stop at the spine, you need to be aware of your entire body’s wellness and lead a proper lifestyle for the best results.

6. Adjustments Are Painful

In general, joint manipulations or adjustments are not painful. Actually, many people have said they received immediate relief from pain. At first, you might be nervous about the popping or cracking sound that happens after an adjustment but it actually comes from the gas bubbles in your joint, it’s actually simple to cracking your own knuckles.

You need to ask the right questions about your treatment options and your overall health. You need to be an active partner in your healthcare and your participation is actually required if you want the best care to meet your goal. Chiropractors always strive to understand anything you need to know so that you can get the best care. If you have any more questions about chiropractic care, you can make an appointment with a chiropractor in your area. You can also do your own research online to learn what you can expect when you go in for your first chiropractic treatment.

It’s also prudent to do your research to make sure you’re visiting the best chiropractor for your needs.