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Questions &
Answers about Chiropractic Treatment
(adapted from the American Chiropractic
Association)
What conditions do chiropractors treat?
Chiropractors treat a variety of conditions of the
musculoskeletal and nervous systems. These range from
conditions of the spine, headaches, and conditions affecting
the joints of the arms and legs.
Do insurance plans cover chiropractic?
The majority of all insured American workers have coverage for
chiropractic services in their health care plans. For example,
the federal government's Office of Personnel Management offers
chiropractic coverage for federal employees in both the Mail
Handlers and BCBS benefit plans. In addition, there is a
chiropractic benefit in Federal Workers Compensation, and
chiropractic care is available to members of the armed forces
at more than 40 military bases, and is available at nearly 30
veterans medical facilities.
What type of education and training do
chiropractors have?
Chiropractors are educated as primary contact health care
practitioners, with an emphasis on musculoskeletal diagnosis
and treatment. Educational requirements for doctors of
chiropractic are among the most stringent of any of the health
care professions. The typical applicant at a chiropractic
college has already acquired nearly four years of pre-medical
undergraduate college education, including courses in biology,
inorganic and organic chemistry, physics, psychology and
related lab work.
Once accepted into an
accredited chiropractic college, the requirements become even
more demanding four to five academic years of professional
study are the standard. Because of the hands-on nature of
chiropractic, and the intricate adjusting techniques, a
significant portion of time is spent in clinical training.
In total, the chiropractic curriculum includes a minimum of
4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical experience.
The course of study is approved by an accrediting agency that
is fully recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Is chiropractic treatment safe?
Yes, chiropractic treatment is safe and effective. While any
form of health treatment contains a degree of inherent risk,
there is little danger in chiropractic care when administered
by a licensed practitioner. To assure competency, all states
require that DCs be board-qualified, licensed, and regulated
according to stringent criteria. Statistics show that patient
risk is substantially lower in chiropractic as opposed to
medical care, where the use of prescription drugs and surgery
pose a greater risk.
Is chiropractic treatment appropriate for
children?
Yes, children can benefit from chiropractic care. Children are
very physically active and experience many types of falls and
blows from activities of daily living as well as from
participating in sports. Injuries such as these may cause many
symptoms including back and neck pain, stiffness, soreness or
discomfort. Chiropractic care is always adapted to the
individual patient. It is a highly skilled treatment, and in
the case of children, very gentle.
Has pain got you feeling down? Don't put off feeling better
even one more day, pick up the phone
and give us a call right now at 985-542-1640 to
schedule an appointment.
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