Chiropractic

Chiropractic is a philosophy that is believed to restore balance in the body and thus enable the body to heal itself. According to this philosophy, balance is achieved by keeping open the lines of communication within the body—the nerves. Chiropractic was developed as a therapy in the late nineteenth century.

Communication begins in the mind, travels down the spinal cord, and reaches all parts of the body through the nerves. The nerves emerge from the spinal cord through openings between the bones of the spine (vertebrae). If vertebrae are out of line (misaligned), they may interfere with communication through the nerves, and a problem can result. The problem may affect any part of the body, depending on the location of the misalignment (subluxation). By correcting the misalignment, chiropractic enables communication through the nerves to occur normally and helps the body restore balance and maintain health.

To locate misalignments, chiropractors may use their hands to feel along the spine. Many chiropractors take x-rays to determine where the problem is and to make sure that no bones are fractured before therapy is begun. To correct misalignments, chiropractors use their hands to apply pressure to the spine in a specific direction and location. Several different techniques and approaches can be used. Chiropractic does not use drugs or surgery. When done correctly, the therapy is painless.

Chiropractic is licensed in all 50 states. Medicare and many private insurance companies cover it.

Medicinal claims: Chiropractic has been used to relieve back pain (especially low back pain), neck pain, other muscle pain, and headaches. Chiropractic is claimed to relieve the symptoms of many other disorders, including asthma, sinusitis, constipation, and migraines.

Studies support the effectiveness of chiropractic for short-term relief of low back pain. This therapy may help relieve headaches and neck pain. However, continuing treatment longer than a few weeks does not appear to produce additional benefits. And whether chiropractic is effective for persistent (chronic) back pain is not clear. No reliable evidence supports its use for problems that are not related to muscles.

Possible problems: Chiropractic rarely causes serious problems. However, increased pain, ruptured disks, paralysis, and strokes have been reported. Back pain may result if a nerve root (the part of the nerve located near the spine) is damaged. Because chiropractic provides only short-term relief of pain, people may become dependent on chiropractors for continued treatments.