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, on a cultural level some chiropractors have. As a result, when patients go to different chiropractors they get different options, 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 chiropractor who work on symptom relief and the traditional chiropractors who work on subluxation and structural correction. Lets 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 (back pain and headaches). Manipulations are done to the spine to decompress the joints, free fixations and reduce pain. in addition, electrotherapies such as ultrasound, diathermy, electrostimulation, tens units and laser acupuncture, are often used. In some states 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 treatments 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 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.

Also, this "multi-therapy symptom relief" approach results in high insurance billing from the doctor and forces the insurance companies into cost containment procedures, escalating insurance premiums and limited care programs like HMO's and PPO's.

Currently many medical experts see little value and even harm in simply treating symptoms.

Robert Becker, M.D., research expert on the effects of electromagnetic fields on the human body commented on electrotherapy in his book Cross Currents. "It should be apparent that electrical currents administered to the body have purely physical side effects of an undesirable nature. Many people who employ or promote electrical currents are either unaware of these effects or choose to ignore them."

Robert C. Atkins, M.D., Health Revolution "Orthodox medicine tends to treat the symptoms, and once it has made the symptom go away, it tells the patient that his or her condition is cured or at least controlled. Actually, in most cases, the disease hasn't been treated at all. It symptoms have been masked or obliterated, but in due time the disease may well assert itself in another direction."

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. Never 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 it's most stable biomechanical position. This is done through a rehabilitation program of adjustments and spinal exercises.

The length of correction and frequency of adjustments is determined by the severity of the patient's subluxations and structural alignment.

Symptoms may be gone long before the spine is at its maximum corrected position so adjustment schedules are kept intense to allow structural correction in the shortest amount of time.

The patient is then closely monitored by postural patterns, x-rays and spinal readings until the subluxations are corrected and the spine is in it's proper alignment.

By reviewing these before and after studies with the doctor the patient actually sees the results.

Since subluxations are silent and research shows they began at birth resulting in dysfunction and dis-ease, the traditional chiropractor recommends families to be checked, especially children.

Dr. Arpad DeNagy of the Rockefeller Institute states, "Interference to the nervous system results in permanent damage in a short period of time and therefore, chiropractic care should begin at birth on a preventative basis."

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.

 

REFERENCES:

DPN Distributing 1993

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