Chiropractic Misconceptions Straightened Out

First of all, people think that chiropractors are just back doctors or you should only see a chiropractor for back pain. Not true. Chiropractic is concerned with general health and well-being. We teach people that taking care of your spine is the same thing as taking care of your teeth. You don''t wait until your teeth hurt to brush them.

A lot of people have heard different rumors about chiropractors. Dr. Gregg D. Rubinstein, a chiropractor at 57th Street Chiropractic in New York City, straightens out some chiropratic misconceptions.

First of all, people think that chiropractors are just back doctors or you should only see a chiropractor for back pain. Not true. Chiropractic is concerned with general health and well-being. We teach people that taking care of your spine is the same thing as taking care of your teeth. You don''t wait until your teeth hurt to brush them. You don''t wait until your teeth hurt to go to a dentist. You take care of your teeth throughout the course of your lifetime if you want to chew solid food when you are 60, 70 or 80 years old. The same concept is true with your spine. We have all seen someone with an unhealthy spine.

You have seen that old guy all twisted up, walking down the street, all bent over. Well he did not just wake up one day, look in the mirror and say, "Gee what the hell happened to me?" It happens slowly over time. If you get your spine set periodically and take care of your spine the same way you take care of your car or take care of your teeth, these spinal problems or degenerative issues will not be as prevalent. By the time someone has pain or discomfort, he has waited way too long.

They also believe that we are not as well educated as their medical doctors. The first two years of chiropractic college are exactly the same as medical school. We actually have more hours in spinal mechanics and manipulative techniques and radiology than a general practitioner. You hear people say that we are not real doctors. I am not a medical doctor because I don''t want to prescribe drugs. But the truth is, when I really talk about what I do and how I go about it, my job is to teach people how to live active healthy, drug-free lives.

People think that chiropractic is not safe for children. It is very safe for children. It is actually safer to adjust children than it is to adjust adults. They do not get adjusted in the same way. You are never too old or never too young to start caring for your spine. Regarding children: Think of the birth trauma in of itself. When you give Mom and epidural during the birth process, the birth doctor has to pull and twist the neck to get the baby out because the mother cannot feel when to push. So that can cause strain on the neck from day one. And if those problems are not corrected, it can set the stage for greater problems later in life, so it very good for children.


Another misconception I have heard is that its not safe. It is very safe. Chiropractors pay less than $3,000 a year in malpractice insurance compared to a medical doctor who pays probably tens of thousands. That is because malpractice insurance rates are all based on how often your profession gets sued and how safe it is. And guess what? People are not suing chiropractors.

The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.

Dr. Gregg D. Rubinstein is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a Chiropractor or more Health and Medicine articles at Yodle Consumer Guide. Chiropractic Misconceptions Straightened Out