Your Chiropractic Conscience: Go Ahead, You Know You Want to Do It

Reviewed by: Dr. Steven Knauf, D.C.

By Martha Michael

Conscience is all about knowing what’s right and wrong. It’s about making good decisions. Sometimes, it’s about knowing whether you should -- or shouldn’t -- graze on the chocolate-covered peanut clusters at the grocery store.

You may want to do it, but you know you shouldn’t.

Now, let’s apply that same principle to your health. You know what’s right, and you know what’s wrong. Drink soda pop? You know it’s not healthy. Pizza for breakfast? You know what the right answer is. Exercise? It’s a no-brainer: you should exercise.

But what about chiropractic care? We’ll make this easy. You know it makes sense. And if that little chiropractor with a pitchfork on your shoulder is telling you to skip it, the chiropractor with angel wings on your other shoulder is telling you to go for it.

Go ahead. You know you want to do it.

What Are Common Misconceptions About Chiropractic Care?

Some notions about the field of chiropractic medicine are limited in scope. They see it as a simple philosophy or reduce the physical practice to something akin to a massage. If you’ve known someone who sought the help of a chiropractor and simply heard about the popping sounds associated with a chiropractic adjustment, you definitely have an incomplete picture.

An article by the National University of Health Sciences talks about some of the stereotypical myths about chiropractic medicine. They’re easily dispelled when you take a closer look.

False: Chiropractors Only Treat Necks and Backs

More than 35 million Americans seek out chiropractic care to manage a wide range of health conditions. Chiropractors treat people from all walks of life, from pregnant women and infants to seniors and professional athletes.

Physical issues managed or improved through chiropractic treatment include:

• Fatigue
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Chronic pain
• Headaches
• Arthritis
• Diabetes
• Strains and sprains
• Restricted movement
• Back and neck pain

As well chiropractors also treat these important body parts:

• Shoulders
• Elbows
• Wrists
• Hands
• Ribs
• Hips
• Knees
• Ankles and feet

There’s a lot of “there” there when it comes to chiropractic and your healthcare.

False: Chiropractors Have Less Education Than Conventional Practitioners

The field of chiropractic medicine requires practitioners to hold a Doctor of Chiropractic degree and to be licensed to practice in the United States. Not only are doctors of chiropractic well educated, they gain a broader, more holistic view of the human body than many men and women who do rounds in a medical school rotation. Often called DCs, the doctoral program in a nationally accredited graduate school of chiropractic medicine includes more than 4,000 hours of laboratory, classroom, and clinical work. The years of education required to become a chiropractor are no less rigorous than that of allopathic or osteopathic medical school programs.

False: Chiropractic Adjustments Are Less Safe Than Other Modalities

The safety of manual therapies is well documented. Chiropractic care is less invasive than treatment by many medical sources and lacks the risks involved in pharmaceutical and surgical options. Patients often complain about primary care doctors who conduct minimal exams and prescribe medications to reduce inflammation or numb pain instead of finding the source of the problem.

Because it’s a safe alternative to such pain management as anti-inflammatory medicines, steroids, and surgery, chiropractors pay a fraction of the amount medical doctors pay for malpractice insurance. The option of chiropractic care should be your first stop instead of diving into invasive, high-risk procedures.

Will a Commitment to the Chiropractic Lifestyle Improve My Health?

From increased range of motion to reduced pain from injury, the benefits of chiropractic care are expanded when you make lifestyle decisions that employ your body’s natural tendency to facilitate healing. An article on Medium.com sheds light on the ways routine chiropractic can contribute to your overall health and quality of life.

Feeling better, enhanced athletic performance, and lasting health outcomes are among the benefits of allowing your body to naturally optimize itself through the chiropractic lifestyle.

Feeling Better

Whether you like to garden, practice yoga, or play with the kids, quality of life is important. A chiropractor can correct misalignment of the spine that occurs from the daily demands on your body. While it may improve your posture, there’s a much more comprehensive benefit. When your body and brain have optimum communication, it boosts function from turning your head to moving your feet. Expanding your capacity for activities means you have more options and more control over your life.

Enhanced Athletic Performance

You don’t have to be a professional athlete to want to always be in tip-top shape. Millions of Americans are committed to exercise through gym memberships or team sports, and that doesn’t come without risks. Regular chiropractic care is one way to optimize your body’s physical performance by optimizing musculoskeletal health.

With greater joint mobility and range of motion, you are more likely to react faster, jump higher, and build muscle strength. Your chiropractor can’t guarantee you a better batting average or shooting percentage, but with proper alignment and maximized overall health, you’re more likely to have a competitive edge.

Lasting Health Outcomes

Seeing a chiropractor won’t deprive you of the best parts of aging, but feeling good in your senior years can have a positive effect on how you accept things as they come. From reducing poor posture from bad habits to improving recovery time when injuries occur, routine chiropractic care has a lasting effect to boost physical and mental health. Being properly supported by a chiropractor and consciously choosing a lifestyle of healthy habits can help you maintain a level of overall health that stimulates energy and engagement.

What Is a Chiropractic Conscience?

An article in the National Library of Medicine about how chiropractic philosophy blends the wonders of science with a broad, holistic worldview. field of chiropractic medicine provides a pathway for individuals in Western culture to experience a mind-body harmony that is not always prevalent in society.

“By exploring how this new worldview emerged historically and culturally and how it was different from previous worldviews in human history, we can better understand chiropractic, including its philosophy, politics, science, morals, and practice,” the article says. “We can also begin to understand the role chiropractic has played in the history of worldview development and philosophy itself.”

While science is systematized and functional, chiropractic adds the value of the senses—the science of life—to complete the picture. The philosophical roots of chiropractic care—structures of consciousness, self-identity, and ideas—form the basis for a practical, effective healing practice you can depend on.

So, if you ever wonder about the efficacy of allowing your body to heal itself through the science of chiropractic, let your conscience be your guide.

The information, including but not limited to text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this page, is for informational purposes only. The purpose of this post is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics, including but not limited to the benefits of chiropractic care, exercise, and nutrition. It is not intended to provide or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your chiropractor, physician, or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this page.