Two Types of Chiropractors
Not all
chiropractors are alike. Although they
go by the same name, chiropractors today
differ greatly in technique and
philosophy.
The traditional
philosophy that chiropractic was based
on has never changed, but for social
acceptance, some chiropractors have. As
a result, when patients go to different
chiropractors they get different
opinions, treatments and results, not to
mention costs. This can be both
confusing and frustrating to the
patient. If expectations aren't met,
patients stop chiropractic care, and
never get to experience the
great
results chiropractic care can give them.
There are
basically two types of chiropractors —
the musculoskeletal chiropractors who
work on symptom relief and the
traditional chiropractors who work on
subluxation and structural correction.
Let’s look at the two types of
chiropractors so you can choose one.
The Symptom
Relief Chiropractor
Like the
typical M.D. this type of chiropractor
primarily focuses on relief of symptoms
(for example, back pain and headaches).
Manipulations are done to the spine to
decompress the joints, free fixations
and reduce pain. In addition, electro
therapies such as diathermy, electro
stimulation, tens units and laser
acupuncture, are often used. In some of
the states of our nation, chiropractors
are even trying to "expand their scope
of practice" to prescribe drugs.
Length of treatment and frequency of
adjustments are usually dictated by the
patient's symptoms, or insurance
coverage. Degrading treatment schedules
like 3 to 2 to 1 per week are often used
because that is all insurance will pay
for.
Monitoring
patient's progress by symptoms and
insurance coverage, usually means
shorter overall treatment time, but
still leaves the patient far short of
correcting the Cause of the symptom.
The patient may feel better temporarily,
but since the spine remains structurally
misaligned, it degenerates silently and
results in damage and dysfunction to
discs, joints, and whatever part of the
body the nerve supplies.
Currently, many
medical experts see little value and
even harm in simply treating symptoms.
The bottom line is
treating only symptoms still leaves the
cause uncorrected.
The Traditional Chiropractor
This type of chiropractor practices the
traditional philosophy of chiropractic,
which is subluxation, and structural
correction of the spine. Simply put, a
subluxation is a misaligned vertebrae,
which interferes with the nerve
impulses. Nerve impulse is the
electrical impulse from the brain that
regulates all function of the body and
keeps us alive.
 Although
the traditional chiropractor wants his
patients to "feel better," his primary
focus is removing the nerve interference
(subluxation) and restructuring the
spine to its most stable biomechanical
position. This is done through a program
of adjustments and spinal exercises.
The length of
correction and frequency of adjustment
is determined by the severity of the
patient's subluxations and structural
alignment, not symptoms!
Symptoms may be gone long before the
spine is at its maximum corrected
position so adjustment schedules may be
kept intense to allow structural
correction in the shortest amount of
time.
The patient is then closely monitored by
postural patterns, X-rays and
computerized tests that monitor
subluxations until the subluxations are
corrected and the spine is in its proper
alignment and function.
By reviewing these before and after
studies with the doctor, the patient
actually sees the results.
Since subluxations
are silent and research shows they can
begin at birth resulting in dysfunction
and dis-ease, the traditional
chiropractor recommends families to be
checked, especially children.
Because of this, the traditional
chiropractor will work out fair and
equitable payment plans so families can
afford care, regardless of insurance
coverage.
So remember, when
choosing a chiropractor, choose based on
your health goals — either temporary
relief or maximum correction.
The choice is yours!!!!
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