Chiropractic
Chiropractic 101
Hundreds of thousands of patients around the world have experienced pain relief and improved health through the use of Chiropractic. If you are exploring Chiropractic for the first time or have used Chiropractic for years and are looking for specific condition related information, read through the FAQ section below.
Our goal is to provide you the information you need about Chiropractic. If you have a question that is not answered below or would like more in-depth information on a topic, please go to our CONTACT US section and send us your question or feel free to give us a call at 678-407-8230.
Here is a guide to Chiropractic using Frequently Asked Questions.
What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is the third largest primary health care profession in the world (a primary health care professional being one who carries out both diagnosis and treatment) after medicine and dentistry.
Chiropractic is a natural and conservative form of health care, offering an alternative to medication and surgery. Accordingly it makes no use of drugs or surgery and has no aspirations to do so. Apart from high levels of general diagnostic skills, chiropractors are also trained how to take and anaylize X-rays, when appropriate for use in establishing a diagnosis.
Chiropractic is the science, philosophy, and art based on the understanding that health depends upon a normally functioning nervous system, especially the spine and nerves extending from the spine to the body. It focuses on correcting the causes of physical problems, rather than just treating the symptoms of those problems.
A Doctor of Chiropractic is a highly educated neuro-musculo-skeletal (nerve-muscle-skeleton) professional trained to relieve pain and restore health to the musculoskeletal and nervous systems of the body.
What are the Most Common Conditions Treated by Chiropractic Care?
• Headaches
• Migraines
• Neck Pain
• Whiplash
• Shoulder & Arm Pain
• Wrist/Hand Pain
• Elbow Pain/”Tennis Elbow”
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Lower Back Pain
• Hip, Leg, & Knee Pain
•Sciatica/Leg Pain
• Ankle & Foot Pain
Is Chiropractic Safe?
Dozens of research studies have documented the safety and effectiveness of chiropractic adjustments. When compared with traditional medical/drug approaches, chiropractic care is remarkably safe. In fact, millions of chiropractice adjustments are safely delivered to satisfied patients every day.
How long will I have to go to a Chiropractor?
Each individual case is different but your treatment plan can be anywhere from a few weeks to several months. If you are in pain from an injury, typically a few adjustments along with other therapy, such as ice, ultra-sound, or EMS. will help relieve the pain fairly quickly.
The overall recovery period depends upon a number of factors. If you were injured, the severity of an injury; if you have a chronic condition, how long you have had the condition; the general condition of your spine, joint, muscle, or other affected area. When you meet with Dr. Alexander, he will provide you with a recommended care plan which will let you know how long your treatment will be expected to last.
It is also important to understand that, unlike other health-care disciplines, Chiropractic care seeks to to correct the underlying problems, not just relieve symptoms.
There are essentially 3 Phases to Chiropractic care.
Phase One - Relief Care
This is the critical care phase to help get you out of pain as quickly as possible.
Phase Two - Rehabilitative Care
Once your condition has stabilized, you enter the second phase of chiropractic care, where the objective is to correct any underlying injury or cause of discomfort, strengthen the muscles, and improve neuromusculoskeletal function.
Phase Three - Wellness Care
Wellness or Maintenance Care is designed to maintain your improved health, encourage normal spinal function, prevent the return of the original condition, and catch small problems before they become serious.
READ MORE for a more in-depth description of each of the 3 phases of care.
A good way to look at chiropractic is to relate it to dentistry. We all know it takes a long time to develop tooth decay, but with regular maintenance and check-ups, the plaque doesn’t have a chance. Similarly, it often takes a long time to develop a spinal misalignment. But with regular maintenance, the bones will not have a chance to get out of line.
Few things as complicated as your body can be “fixed” and then ignored. Think of your car, your teeth, or your relationships. They take time and effort to maintain, but you know it’s worth it in the long run. That’s why we recommend a regular schedule of chiropractic check-ups.
You can then congratulate yourself on achieving your ultimate goal: optimal health.
What type of education do Doctors of Chiropractic receive?
Doctors of Chiropractic are required to have basically the same prerequisite courses as medical doctors before they are admitted to a Chiropractic college. They also take about the same number of hours of course study as medical doctors as you will note in the chart below comparing the two disciplines. The difference is in the courses of emphasis. Doctors of Chiropractic also are required to do between 900 and 1,000 hours of clinic work prior to graduation.
Upon graduation, Doctors of Chiropractic must pass a rigorous set of state and national board exams before they become licensed to practice.
Chiropractic Education vs. Medical Education
The numbers listed below indicate the number of class hours each discipline is required to take. (These hours may vary slightly depending on the school attended.)Chiropractic Subject Medical
520 Anatomy 508
420 Physiology 326
271 Pathology 335
300 Chemistry 325
114 Bacteriology 130
370 Diagnosis 374
320 Neurology 112
217 X-Ray 148
65 Psychiatry 144
65 Ob/GYN 198
225 Orthopedics 156
2,887 TOTAL HOURS 2,756
