5564 Little Debbie Pkwy, Suite 108, Collegedale, TN 37363

National Chiropractic Health Month: Frequently Asked Questions About Chiropractic Care

By: Dr. Ryan Lee 

October is National Chiropractic Health Month (NCHM) and this year chiropractors across the country are sharing how chiropractic care can make a big impact when it comes to musculoskeletal pain. The month-long recognition helps to raise public awareness of the benefits of chiropractic care and its natural, holistic, patient-centered and drug-free approach to health and wellness. Chiropractors provide patients with evidence-based therapies that are safe, effective, and may help some patients to avoid or reduce the need for a prescription pain medication or surgery down the line. So what are some of the most common questions asked about Chiropractic Care?

What is a Chiropractor?

Chiropractors are highly-trained, specialized doctors who care for a patient’s neuromusculoskeletal system — the bones, nerves, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. A chiropractor can help manage back and neck pain through the use of spinal adjustments to maintain good alignment.

What do Chiropractors do?

Chiropractors conduct an examination of a patient, looking at the person’s spine position and muscle reflexes. They also perform tests and may also take x-rays to diagnose the patient’s condition and come up with a treatment plan to monitor progress. Chiropractors rely on and assist the body’s ability to heal itself. A chiropractor’s primary therapy is spinal manipulation where they use hands or instruments to apply force to a joint in the spine, moving the joint in a specific direction for better alignment.

Do Chiropractors prescribe medication?

Chiropractors do not prescribe pain medication. Sometimes chiropractors will recommend using massage therapy, ultrasound, braces, and shoe inserts to help relieve pain. Overall, Chiropractors take a holistic approach to pain-relief.

What kind of education to Chiropractors go through?

In the US, the Doctor of Chiropractic degree is usually a four-year program on top of three-four years of undergraduate study. All states require a chiropractor to earn a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, pass the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners exam, and obtain a license to practice in that state. Doctoral programs provide studies in life sciences like anatomy and physiology. They also provide supervised experience in making assessments, hands-on spinal adjustment techniques, and business training.

Some states require a background check and exams in that state’s laws about chiropractic. Additionally, as a condition of ongoing licensing, all states require continuing education. 

What do Chiropractors treat?
Most people know that Chiropractors help treat neck or back pain, but they can also treat so much more. Chiropractic care can help with a wide variety of conditions including: tension headaches, migraine headaches, shoulder pain, knee pain, sciatica, disc bulges and herniations. We have a full list of what chiropractic care can treat here.

Does Chiropractic Care work?

Yes! Chiropractic care for pain can be a non-invasive treatment option for any of the above injuries. There have been numerous studies that indicate that chiropractic care is a great way to approach many different pain conditions.

Neck pain and back pain are just two of the pain conditions best served by chiropractic care, especially when combined with other treatments.

Is Chiropractic Care safe?

Yes! Chiropractic care is safe, effective, and generally free of side effects. It’s important to find a chiropractor near you who is appropriately-trained and comes with great credentials. 

How many appointments will I need?

That depends. Chiropractors will evaluate each patient individually and develop a care plan for their unique needs and concerns. A good chiropractor will work with you to make sure that you get the care you need for your conditions.

Can I get Chiropractic Care during pregnancy?

Yes! Chiropractic care during pregnancy actually can have a lot of benefits for both the mother and baby. Chiropractic care keeps the spine aligned, so it can be helpful for pregnant women who are in discomfort. Midwives and obstetricians will sometimes recommend chiropractic care to their patients.

Can babies and kids benefit from Chiropractic Care?

Yes! The bones of babies and children have a large portion of cartilage, which is soft and flexible, that will harden into bone with the help of calcium throughout childhood.  Because of this, the force and technique behind an adjustment for an infant or child is much different from that of an adult. It may even take something as little as a small vibration from the chiropractor’s hand/finger into the joint to get the movement back to its normal state.

Schedule Your Next Visit

If you’re experiencing back or neck pain and are looking for a holistic chiropractor in Collegedale,TN then come see us! We provide our patients with personalized care structured around your needs. Get in touch to find out how we can help, or book a consultation today! 

Book Appointment Now

________________________________________________________________________________________

Dr. Ryan Lee is the practicing chiropractic physician at Reach Health and Wellness Chiropractic. For his full bio, click here. *This content is strictly the opinion of Dr. Ryan Lee and is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Dr. Lee does not take responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.

Reated Posts:

noun receptionist

Schedule Your Visit

and get back to what you love!

We care about your experience.  Fill in your details and we’ll get in touch soon.