Chiropractic Care Is Expensive
Research clearly disproves this myth. Chiropractic care has been consistently shown to be cost effective in a number of government and workers' compensation board studies.
According to The Manga Report, a 1993 Canadian government commissioned study,
"There would be highly significant cost savings if more management of low-back pain was transferred from physicians to chiropractors... Users of chiropractic care have substantially lower health care costs, especially inpatient costs, than those who use medical care only."
According to an economic analysis conducted in Richmond , Virginia ,
"By every test of cost and effectiveness, the general weight of evidence shows chiropractic to provide important therapeutic benefits, at economical costs. Additionally, these benefits are achieved with apparently minimal, even negligible, impacts on the costs of health insurance."
When the State of Florida 's Workers' Compensation Board conducted research in 1988 on treatment costs associated with injured workers who received care from either chiropractic doctors or medical doctors, they found chiropractic treatment costs were 58.8 percent of the treatments costs rendered by medical doctors ($558 vs. $1,100 per case
Do I Have To Keep Coming Back For Treatments?
You may have heard the notion that once you go to a chiropractor you have to keep going back. Before we answer that question, ask yourself how many times you have visited a dentist? Like most people, you've probably gone dozens of times. Why? Quite simply, to prevent your teeth from literally rotting out of your head.
Once we have eliminated your pain and rehabilitated the injured tissues we do recommend that you maintain a schedule of periodic spinal checkups. Like your dentist and like many of the medical experts are now recognizing, prevention is the key to reducing recurrences of existing health conditions and minimizing new injuries in the future.
So the answer is yes, we want you to keep coming back, but just periodically. Periodic chiropractic care minimizes spinal and nerve stresses, reduces recurrences of old injuries, prevents new injuries from developing, minimizes degenerative processes, which enhances overall health and wellness.
You'll Have To Continue Chiropractic Care For The Rest Of Your Life if You Choose Wellness Care
Most doctors of chiropractic promote a preventative type of lifestyle which has been construed by adversaries to mean that chiropractic care requires a lifetime of commitment. Actually, recommending that patients return for periodic spinal care is no different that what dentists recommend to their patients in order to prevent cavities and gum disease.
Just as it would be ludicrous to believe that visiting a dentist once per lifetime would ensure permanently healthy teeth and gums it's equally as silly to think that visiting a chiropractor a few times will ensure a lifelong healthy spine. Our spinal tissues undergo daily bombardment of stresses originating from bad postural habits, suboptimal work environments, psychological stress, and hectic lifestyles just to name a few.
For these reasons, after the resolution of acute problems patients are given the option to receive periodic spinal checkups which acts to minimize the likelihood of future recurrences or development of new problems. The preventative approach in health care has been gaining much recognition as of late and there has been a large push in the medical community and health insurance industry to incorporate preventative programs into mainstream medicine.
It's really that simple. Periodic care to prevent future problems - safe, natural, convenient care now to avoid nasty and complex problems late. Doctors of chiropractic have long been dedicated to delivering the safest and most effective healing methods for their patients. To achieve this, the chiropractic profession has been dedicated to scientific evaluation of their diagnostic and treatment methods and techniques.
Chiropractic health care has an impressive array of studies which support and prove the effectiveness of chiropractic care in a variety of different health ailments and many more studies are currently underway. Many of these studies have been performed not only by chiropractors, but by other health care professionals and federal government studies of various countries.
Chiropractors Education
The training and education endured by chiropractors is extremely thorough and demanding, similar to that of medical doctors with the exception of pharmacology and surgery.
Prior to entering chiropractic college, the aspiring chiropractor requires 2-4 years (depending on the college attended and the state one wishes to practice in) of premed undergraduate studies. Once completed, the student must next complete 4-5 academic years of studies at a chiropractic college. This includes extensive training in anatomy, physiology, pathology, neurology, radiology, differential diagnosis, chiropractic adjustive techniques, biomechanics , and other health-related studies.
In addition, prior to graduation each student must successfully complete several hundred clinical hours of "real" patient management in a clinical setting under professional supervision. Most chiropractic colleges also require students to partake in clinical externship programs which place them in actual chiropractic offices, further enhancing their clinical practice skills.
Near or soon after graduation, the new doctors of chiropractic must successfully complete rigorous National and State Board examinations prior to obtaining a license to practice chiropractic. Once licensed, most states require that chiropractors receive annual continuing education to ensure that a high level of competency is maintained
Chiropractic Science? As sophisticated diagnostic equipment becomes available, researchers are affirming what chiropractic doctors have known all along. A consistent scientific protocol is used to locate malfunctioning areas of the spine.
Chiropractic Is Not Scientific
Chiropractors have always sought to provide the safest and most effective healing methods for their patients. In order to achieve this, the chiropractic profession has been dedicated to conducting scientific studies to improve their diagnostic methods and treatment techniques. In the last 20 years chiropractic health care has established an impressive array of scientific research that demonstrates the efficacy, safety and cost effectiveness of chiropractic care. There are many further studies currently underway, and several have been performed by medical doctors and government researchers in both the U.S. and a number of other countries.
In fact, the chiropractic profession has accumulated a greater number of scientific trials on chiropractic than the medical profession has accumulated for many of the treatments rendered by medical doctors. According to David M. Edy, M.D., Ph.D., professor at Duke University , North Carolina , only 15 percent of all medical interventions are supported by solid scientific evidence. Paul G. Shekelle, M.D., M.P.H., of the RAND Corporation made the following statement on ABC's 20/20:
"There are considerably more randomized controlled trials which show benefit of this (chiropractic care) than there are for many, many other things which physicians and neurosurgeons do all the time."
Common Injuries- Rolling your ankle is a serious injury to your body and can cause a myriad of other issues. This is due to "stretching" a ligament, which is like a plastic sac and cannot be stretched to function properly, and allows the only ankle bone, the talus, to drop. This drop, usually millimeters, causes a chain reaction. You are literally walking around on a flat tire. If you drive around on a flat tire eventually the joints, struts, bearings and shocks wear out faster then on a good tire. The same is true in your body. If a joint is not examined and treated you have an adaptation, a limp or a change in gait, that allows you to ambulate even though an injury has occurred.
Non-muscular conditions Treated- See a list of conditions treated
Types of care
Relief Care
Relief care is the first stage of care for most patients. The primary goal during this initial stage is to provide the individual with symptomatic relief. Treatments focus on those techniques and therapies which most quickly and effectively reduce pain and other discomforts. This will allow the majority of individuals to continue their activities of daily living. Patients are generally recommended to "take it easy" but are encouraged to stay mobile and functional so long as there is not a risk of further injury or tissue damage. Therapies that reduce inflammation and muscle spasm are also used during this stage when present.
Corrective Care
The second stage of care consists of correcting the problems which caused and contributed to the condition and healing and rehabilitating the injured tissues. Unless these events take place, a favorable outcome is unlikely and future recurrences of the problem are likely. It is extremely important that the patient comply with and follow the instructions given by the doctor during this stage of care. Tissues and structures that are not fully healed and rehabilitated are prone to future problems. Sticking to appointments, complying with home exercises and instructions and following all other recommendations will help insure this occurs. Patients should also be aware that once pain and discomfort have subsided, tissue healing and functional correction is many times still incomplete and will often require additional treatments.
Wellness Care
Once the spinal tissues are healed and spinal biomechanics have normalized the patient will be recommended to continue with periodic spinal checkups. For some this might mean once per year, for others this may mean once per month or more. Chiropractic spinal checkups provide similar benefits to the spine that dental checkups provide to the teeth. Namely, catching minor problems and disturbances before they have the opportunity to cause pain, discomfort and irreversible tissue changes. Just like with cavities and heart attacks, irreversible tissue damage has generally occurred before the symptoms of spinal pain and discomfort become apparent.
Non-muscular injuries In addition to musculoskeletal problems, chiropractic treatments have also been shown to benefit many individuals suffering from "medical" ailments such as chronic ear infections in children, menstrual pain and irregularities in women, and arthritis in the elderly. Although chiropractic care is not a specific form of treatment for such conditions, research has shown that many "medical" conditions can be caused or aggravated by irritation to spinal nerve roots which share an intimate relationship with the spinal structures. By restoring proper nerve functioning by normalizing spinal structure and function, we believe some individuals suffering from these "medical" ailments can obtain partial and in some cases, full relief. See what we TREAT here
How to Attain, Improve, and Maintain you Health through Self-Preservation
Keeping appointments saves you money
Your care schedule is based on the experience of thousands of doctors with millions of patients. Just as you can't expect to get in shape by working out just once or twice, you can't expect meaningful changes to your health with just a few chiropractic visits! Each adjustment builds on the one before. Missing or postponing visits can interfere with the "retraining" of your spine. The best way to receive the excellent results that millions of chiropractic patients have enjoyed is to keep your appointments.
Eating the correct foods
Proper nutrition is especially important. Increase your intake of raw fruits and vegetables.
Avoid processed foods that are robbed of their vitamins and minerals. Make sure your body has the nutrients it needs to heal the muscles and soft tissues that support your spine. This might also be a good time to slim down and reduce the burden on your spinal column. You'll feel better and look better, too. Ask your doctor for advice and guidance. Getting the proper rest
When combined with regular chiropractic adjustments, proper rest can help heal and regenerate your body. Sleep on a mattress that offers firm support, lying on your back or your side. Make sure your pillow provides proper support. Too thick or thin and it can distort the curve in your neck.
The latest research indicates that patients with spinal problems should avoid extended bed rest. Yet, when getting adequate sleep each night, it's important that the time you spend resting doesn't make your problem worse!
Exercise moderately
The rehabilitation of your spine also depends upon proper muscle tone. Ask your doctor if now is a good time to begin a routine of regular exercise. Swimming, brisk walking, or other aerobic exercise can increase your metabolism and help maximize the healing process. Your doctor may recommend some stretches or exercises that can help strengthen the muscles that support your spine. Take it easy at first, and slowly build your endurance.
Performing these simple routines as you are able can aid the speed of your recovery. It's an inexpensive way for you to assist your doctor and optimize your chiropractic results. During your recovery
Be sure to ask questions along the way, so you understand every aspect of your chiropractic care. Tell others, so they can support your decision and help you follow your doctor's recommendations. Finally, when you're feeling better, consider a schedule of preventive chiropractic care to maintain your progress and help avoid a relapse.
Give it time
If you cover up symptoms with a pill, you might expect the "fast, fast relief" like the advertisements promise on television. But, your chiropractic doctor is attempting to correct the underlying cause(s) of your problem. That takes time. Remember, doctors don't heal. Only your body can heal itself. Your body sets its own priorities and directs its own recovery. So, the chiropractic approach to better health is to help release your body's inborn healing abilities.
SAVING YOU MONEY