What type of education does a doctor of chiropractic need to become licensed?
In order to become licensed as a doctor of chiropractic, or DC, a students need to go through a 4-5 year academic program, after successful completion of their undergraduate studies.
The curriculum of a chiropractic school is very similar to that of most US medical schools. Course work includes an in-depth study of anatomy, physiology, pathology, neurology, radiology, biomechanics, spinal manipulative techniques, physical therapies, and nutrition. The major difference between the curriculum of a chiropractic education and a medical one is that doctors of chiropractic clock in more hours of anatomy, and do not study pharmacology, as chiropractic is a drug-free profession.
In addition to the core curriculum studied by all chiropractors, the doctors at All in Good Health have gone above and beyond by accumulating hundreds of hours of post-graduate studies in a wide variety of health-related topics including acupuncture, nutrition, kinesiology and neurology.
What is the major difference between chiropractic and medical approaches to healthcare?
The major difference between the two professions is the type of treatment rendered. The typical medical approach utilizes a combination of drugs and/or invasive surgery. Chiropractic relies solely on natural means to restore health. Such methods include but are not limited to spinal and joint manipulation, soft-tissue and muscle therapies, physical rehabilitation, and nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling. Some practitioners, like the doctors at All in Good Health also complete post-graduate studies in other natural healing modalities such as acupuncture and clinical neurology.
As far as physical examination and diagnostic procedures though, chiropractic physicians utilize the same standard of care as the medical profession. Such methods include but are not limited to blood chemistry, urinary, and salivary testing, x-rays, standardized physical examinations, etc.
Once I start going to a chiropractor, do I have to keep going for the rest of my life?
The choice is completely up to the patient. There is a common misconception that chiropractic is "addictive". This probably stems from the fact that many people really enjoy the treatments. Just as many people enjoy exercise because it is good for their health, and it makes them feel good, many feel the same about chiropractic and acupuncture.
When done properly, regular chiropractic/acupuncture care not only creates a backdrop for lasting health and structural integrity, but it also simply feels good. For many patients of chiropractic, the decision to receive regular care is merely a part of their dedication to a lifestyle of wellness and prevention.
That is why most people tend to come in regularly for a "tune-up", even when they don?t have any specific health concerns. This enjoyment and active pursuit of good health is definitely not something that would be labeled as an "addiction".
Does acupuncture hurt?
The pain generated by an acupuncture treatment, when performed by a trained practitioner, is minimal. The initial needle insertion may be described as the sensation of a quick pinch to the skin. Many patients do not even realize that the needle has been inserted.
As a matter of fact, many patients report feelings of great relaxation as the treatment progresses. This is most likely due to the fact that needle acupuncture stimulates the release of endorphins into the bloodstream, which are the body?s natural built-in painkillers.
How many treatments will it take?
Two major factors determine the amount of time and treatment sessions that will be necessary for recovery- the severity of the health condition, and the overall health of the patient.
The first factor is based on this simple principle: serious health conditions require more time for the body to heal than conditions of a lesser degree of severity. As a general rule, health conditions that have existed for long periods of time usually take longer to recover from.
In addition, when serious injury has occurred and there has been great shock to the body, the time to recovery would also be longer then for less serious injuries.
As stated before, the human body is a self-healing organism. The second major factor that dictates time to recovery is based upon this principle. As an example, when you cut your hand, the body initiates a variety of built-in mechanisms to repair and heal the area.
When the overall health of an individual is poor, the weaker the response will be to initiate and maintain these healing processes. Therefore, the time to recovery will be longer than if the person was of a healthier nature.
The doctors at All in Good Health take into account both of these factors when determining the amount of treatments necessary for each individual patient.
