Top 10 Chiropractic FAQ (according to google)

Google – always evolving and becoming smarter, more intuitive, and specific to the user. It is the go-to source for information, and the one place you can ask any question you want without being judged. 

Question: What happens when you Google “chiropractic”?

Answer: Usually not nice things. But for some reason, I can’t help but periodically check to see if the Internet has changed its tune as chiropractors become more mainstream. I noticed for a while now that Google has introduced a nifty feature that populates frequently asked questions associated to the keyword you’ve searched. Under each question is a suggested answer pulled from the web. Naturally, I was curious to see if Google had made such a list for chiropractic. It did, and of course, I didn’t like some of the answers so I took a screenshot of the top 10 questions and wrote out my own answers.

1. What exactly does a chiropractor do?

A chiropractor is a musculoskeletal expert. That means we have a very in-depth understanding of human anatomy and biomechanics. A chiropractor’s mandate is to diagnose, treat, and prevent conditions related to the musculoskeletal system in a conservative way. This means instead of drugs and surgery, we will recommend a course of care that usually involves spinal manipulation, manual therapy, exercise, and lifestyle recommendations. Every chiropractor’s approach and techniques are a little different, so don’t be afraid to ask questions to make sure the chiropractor is a right fit for your needs and goals.

2. Are chiropractors safe?

Chiropractic care is very low risk. During our 4 years of training, students spend 1000+ hours learning the art of spinal manipulation on each other. During that time, there is an emphasis on the correct line of drive (which is different for each area of the spine), how to generate the appropriate force and speed, and how to optimize the doctor’s biomechanics. It’s always a good idea to have a conversation with your chiropractor about what techniques they use and if they are suitable for you. Most chiropractors have multiple tools in their toolbox to be able to serve patients in a way that is comfortable for them while maintaining the efficacy of their care.

3. Do chiropractors really help?

Many people respond well to chiropractic care when addressing spinal complaints like neck pain, back pain, and headaches, but there is always a responsibility on the patient to make the supportive changes. This is why patient education is a key component to chiropractic care. Besides pain relief, patients can expect to feel more knowledgeable about their health and empowered to make better decisions. When patients are not responding as expected, we have a responsibility to refer to other providers for co-management or advanced imaging. If your chiropractor says that maybe it will just take 30-40 more visits before you feel better, it may be time to search for a different chiropractor near you.

4. Is a doctor of chiropractic a real doctor?

This question is a bit vague and could be interpreted different ways depending on what is meant by “real doctor”. If you mean medical doctor, no chiropractors are not medical doctors. If you mean to ask whether chiropractors use the title “doctor”, then the answer is yes. Chiropractors have the privilege of using the title “Doctor of Chiropractic” and the right to deliver a diagnosis is within our scope of practice.

5. Will a doctor recommend a chiropractor?

Many family doctors will recommend seeing a chiropractor for neck and low back pain, and some are even patients of a chiropractor themselves. A good evidence-based chiropractor will work with your primary provider to co-manage your condition.

6. Are chiropractors a waste of money?

The straight answer to that question: It depends. If your chiropractor recommends 42 visits over the course of 6 months at a cost of $4,000, then maybe. A chiropractor’s fee per visit varies based on several factors. These factors include insurance coverage, location, length of the visit, and any additional modalities the chiropractor incorporates. Most chiropractors will publish their fees on their website. The length of care depends on the patient’s needs, goals, and diagnosis. An honest, patient centered chiropractor will usually recommend a short trial of care, sometimes in the range of 6-12 visits. Depending on the results, you may be released from active care, have your treatment plan altered, or be referred to a different provider for co-management. Unnecessary x-rays, scans, detoxifying foot baths, supplements, or allergy testing from a chiropractor may be a waste of money.

7. Has anyone died from a chiropractor?

This is a controversial topic. There are news stories about people suffering from a stroke following a cervical (neck) spinal manipulation. Research has shown that’s its nearly impossible for spinal manipulation to damage a perfectly healthy artery. But if an artery is compromised, or the patient is already in the middle of an event, a manipulation may increase the damage. Usually in these rare cases, a patient presents to a provider’s office due to neck pain and severe headaches. If the provider does not perform a comprehensive history and exam, these signs of vertebral artery dissection could be missed.

8. How often should you get a chiropractic adjustment?

The answer to this question depends greatly on the severity and nature of your symptoms. With new, acute injuries, you may be seen more frequently. Sometimes 2-3 times per week for a couple of weeks. If you are suffering from more mild issues, 1-2 times per week would be normal to start. After you show progress, and your symptoms are improving and functional limitations are decreasing, you will be seen less, and eventually released from active care. After you are released from active care, it really is up to the patient how often they want to get treated. Some people feel good being treated once per month on a “maintenance” routine. Others are comfortable just coming in as needed, when their symptoms may flare up. But there is no truth to the “once you go to a chiropractor, you always have to go” statement.

9. Can a chiropractor hurt your back?

Refer back to #2, Are chiropractors safe. Although the majority of patients respond well to chiropractic care, there are rare cases where people actually feel worse after a chiropractic adjustment. Typically this happens on the first couple of treatments, when your body is not used to the treatments and you may feel sore for a day or two. But serious complications are extremely rare.

10. Do chiropractors release toxins?

This is a strange question. A chiropractic treatment may release some toxins, the same way a massage or intense exercise can release lactic acid stored in the muscles. This is why you may feel sore following a treatment. But to say a chiropractor can release toxins to help “detoxify the body” is mostly nonsense. Chiropractic care can be very beneficial for aches and pains of the back and neck, but to claim to detoxify the body, or boost the immune system is unproven and lacks evidence.