What Does a Chiropractor Do?
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
