Pain & Injury Treatment Center

Most people have heard about chiropractic, and many have been to a chiropractor before.   However, there are still a lot of things about chiropractic that people don’t know.  The following information is provided by the International Chiropractic Association to address some of the most common questions people have about chiropractic.

Chiropractic is Safe.
Records form insurance and court cases have constantly shown that chiropractic is the safest portal of entry health care available to the public today. Although no healthcare procedures are 100% safe, chiropractic stands on its record of safety and effectiveness unmatched in healthcare. To learn more about the safety record of chiropractic please visit the website Chiropractic Is Safe at www.chiropracticissafe.org.

Chiropractic is the fastest-growing and second-largest primary health care profession.
There are approximately 60,000 doctors of chiropractic (DCs) in active practice in the United States spread from rural areas to inner cities. More than 10,000 students are currently enrolled in chiropractic educational programs accredited by a federally-recognized body (CCE).

Chiropractic services are in high demand.
Tens of millions of Americans routinely opt for chiropractic services and this number is rapidly growing. In 1993, more than 30 million consumers made chiropractic a regular part of their health care program.

Doctors of Chiropractic receive extensive, demanding professional education on par with medical doctors (MDs) and osteopaths (DOs).
To receive the doctor of chiropractic degree, candidates must complete extensive undergraduate prerequisites and four years of graduate-level instruction and internship at an accredited chiropractic institution. Comprehensive knowledge of all systems of the body and diagnostic procedures enable the DC to thoroughly evaluate a patient, address disorders relating to the spine and determine the need for referral to another health care provider.

Doctors of Chiropractic are primary health care providers.
According to the Center for Studies in Health Policy, “The DC can provide all three levels of primary care interventions and therefore is a primary care provider, as are MDs and DOs. The doctor of chiropractic is a gatekeeper to the health care system and an independent practitioner who provides primary care services. The DC’s office is a direct access portal of entry to the full scope of service.”

Doctors of Chiropractic are licensed in all 50 states.
DCs have been licensed and recognized for many decades in all states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Chiropractic is recognized by governmental health care programs.
Chiropractic is included in Medicare, Medicaid, Federal Employees Health Care Benefits Programs, Federal Workers’ Compensation and all state workers’ compensation programs. Chiropractic students are qualified to receive federal student loan assistance and DCs are authorized to be commissioned as health care officers in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The practice of chiropractic is based on sound scientific principles.
The existence of the nervous system as the primary control mechanism of the body is an undisputed scientific fact. Its relationship with the spine is the focus of the practice of chiropractic. The spine develops in utero to provide two primary functions: (1) allow for freedom of movement and (2) house and protect the spinal cord. When the vertebrae of the spine become misaligned through trauma or repetitive injury, two major consequences will result: (1) the range of motion becomes limited and (2) spinal nerves emerging from the spinal cord are compromised. DCs use the term “subluxation” to describe such disruptions. Interruption of nerve flow can eventually lead to pain, disability, and an overall decrease in the quality of life. Conversely, the removal of that interference has been shown to have significant, lasting health benefits. Through the adjustment of the subluxation, the doctor of chiropractic endeavors to restore normal nerve expression. The body is then able to respond appropriately to any imbalance in the system, thus relieving symptoms and restoring health.

Doctors of chiropractic provide effective, low-cost health care for a wide range of conditions.
Studies conducted according to the highest scientific standards and published by organizations not affiliated in any way with chiropractic institutions or associations continue to show the clinical appropriateness and effectiveness of chiropractic care. One of the most recent, funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health, stated emphatically that:

“On the evidence, particularly the most scientifically valid clinical studies, spinal manipulation applied by chiropractors is shown to be more effective than alternative treatments for low back pain…There would be highly significant cost savings if more management of low back pain was transferred from physician to chiropractors.”

The doctor of chiropractic is an effective source of preventative and wellness care.
The anatomical focus of the DC on the human spine has created the perception of the DC as just a “back doctor.” Although this perception is not entirely incorrect, it is very much incomplete. Doctors of chiropractic are a highly appropriate resource in matters of work-place safety, stress management, injury prevention, postural correction and nutritional counseling.”

The process of chiropractic adjustment is a safe, efficient procedure which is performed nearly one million times every working day in the United States.
There is a singular lack of actuarial data that would justify concluding that chiropractic care is in any way harmful or dangerous. Chiropractic care is non-invasive, therefore, the body’s response to chiropractic care is far more predictable than its reactions to drug treatments or surgical procedures. Of the nearly one million adjustments given every day in this country, complications are exceedingly rare. Perhaps the best summary statement on the subject of safety was published in 1979 by the Government of New Zealand which established a special commission to study chiropractic. They found:

“The conspicuous lack of evidence that chiropractors cause harm or allow harm to occur through neglect of medical referral can be taken to mean only one thing: that chiropractors have on the whole an impressive safety record.”

Dan Perez, DC

San Ramon Chiropractor

I believe it is important for chiropractors to clearly explain what they do, as the chiropractic industry does not enjoy the benefits of mass communications to the extent that allopathic medicine and pharmaceutical industry do.  You have Grey’s Anatomy, ER, and all those nice TV shows that realistically show what medical doctors do day-to-day, but chiropractic is not represented.   And of course, drug advertisements are all over the place:  TV commercials, radio, billboards, magazines, newspapers.  Chiropractors must use all communications outlets available to them including patient literature, websites, and internet social media to maintain a presence in the public’s perception.  People must have an understanding of what chiropractors do in order to make an informed decision on whether or not to seek out their care, and this responsibility falls in the hands of chiropractors themselves.

Due to chiropractic’s lack of a mass media campaign and absence on television, the public has mixed perceptions on what chiropractors do.  I still often get asked by patients if I can write them a prescription for muscle relaxants or prescription pain relievers.  Well, chiropractors are not licensed to write drug prescriptions; nor are we licensed to give injections.  Chiropractors are able to diagnose medical conditions, treat when the condition falls within their scope of practice, and refer out to other medical specialists for those conditions that fall outside their scope of practice.  Chiropractors can also order blood tests, MRIs, CT scans, electrodiagnostic studies, and other tests to help identify the nature of a problem.

In general, chiropractic is an appropriate choice of treatment for common musculoskeletal problems that are not related to cancer, bone disease or similar pathological process.  Chiropractic is comparatively safe as it is mostly manual in nature and does not involve drugs.

Dan Perez, DC

San Ramon Chiropractor

When should one see a chiropractor?

The answer is, any time.  You don’t have to be crawling on the floor in pain before you pick up the phone to see a chiropractor.  In fact, at that point it’s a bit late to expect immediate pain relief from chiropractic treatment.

But, let’s face it:  most people are so caught up in life’s activities that they don’t see the doctor until their body demands it–usually by sending pain signals to the brain.   Here’s where I remind everyone of the old saying, “An ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure.”

The best answer to the original question is, if you feel out of balance.  You may be thinking, “What does out of balance refer to?”  Here are some visual illustrations to help you understand:

• You look in the mirror and one shoulder is higher than the other
• You look in the mirror and notice that your torso is slightly crooked, like you are leaning to one side without trying
• You can turn your neck more to the right than to the left, or vice-versa
• You feel pain in a foot, knee or hip that impedes your ability to run or walk fast
• You have difficulty putting on a coat because your shoulders are stiff
• It takes longer to get out of bed, and going in the morning due to a stiff or achey back

Then, there are the more obvious times when you really should visit a chiropractor, at least to get checked:

• After a car accident where you experienced whiplash
• After a sports injury
• When you start experiencing nerve symptoms:  numbness, tingling, weakness in your arms or legs
• When your back starts hurting after sitting for an hour

Symptoms (pain, numbness) that start gradually (the term for this is insidious onset) are the end-stage of a disease process.   The moment you start sensing the pain is not the moment the disease process started; it could have originated months, even years ago.   Like the pain from a tooth cavity or cancer, gradual onset back pain typically is end-stage of joint dysfunction.

The lesson to learn here is to not wait until you start feeling pain, come in before the symptoms have a chance to manifest.

Dr. Perez

San Ramon Chiropractor

Image via Wikipedia

As you age, the ligaments, muscles and tendons that hold together your spine naturally lose strength, sometimes causing old injuries to resurface by allowing vertebrae to move out of position.  Muscles supporting the joint tend to lose mass and strength as well.  This is the all too familiar sense of “not feeling like you’re 18 anymore” with each passing year.

Chiropractic can help keep those joints properly aligned and moving.  This can be an effective, preventive measure that pays off in the long run.  If your spinal joints are moving properly, they will be able to last longer and endure more physical challenges in the years ahead.

Dr. Dan,

San Ramon Chiropractor