Fact or Fiction: Is Chiropractic Real Science?

Chiropractic solutions have been embroiled in the timeless debate of whether or not they are considered solutions based on real science or if their practices are considered pseudoscience. Understanding what goes into chiropractic practice and how it is administered, along with where the pseudoscience claims originated, help to paint a picture of what’s true and what is a lie. 

What is Chiropractic Care? 

Before going over pseudoscience claims, it’s important to understand what chiropractic care entails. Chiropractic care is a form of alternative medicine that involves manual manipulation of the body, particularly the spine, to encourage your body to heal on its own. Manual healing methods have existed for thousands of years, but the chiropractic profession has only been officially around and recognized for roughly the past 200 years. 

Chiropractors compose the third largest group of primary healthcare professionals in the US currently, following behind physicians and dentists. Chiropractic care is regulated in all 50 states and practiced across the world. Despite all of this, chiropractic care is still considered a pseudoscience. 

Is Chiropractic Science or Pseudoscience?

Misinformation around chiropractic care is rampant, leading many to believe that it isn’t a form of healthcare that one should pursue. However, many of the points made against chiropractors aren’t true or stretch the truth to make it seem like pseudoscience. 

Myth: Anyone Can Be a Chiropractor, Even Without a Degree

This is technically true, as chiropractors don’t hold an M.D. and aren’t medical doctors. They do graduate with a doctor of chiropractic degree and are licensed practitioners. Becoming a genuine, licensed chiropractor typically requires 4 years of undergraduate study and an associated degree, 3 to 5 years at an accredited chiropractic college, and a clinical internship. If a chiropractor is unlicensed, they are likely unfit to perform their duties as a caregiver and shouldn’t be trusted. 

Myth: Chiropractors Just Crack Your Back

Chiropractors treat issues that affect the nervous and musculoskeletal systems, along with joint realignments. Beyond this, chiropractors also offer: 

• Cold laser therapy

• Electronic stimulation

• Exercise and nutrition counseling

• Postural testing and analysis

• Ultrasound

Some chiropractors even provide massages and acupuncture, depending on the extent of their training. While the myth of chiropractors only cracking backs still pervades, it couldn’t be further from the truth. 

Myth: Chiropractic Care is Dangerous

Chiropractic care comes in many different forms, but all of them are focused on alleviating pain, not causing it. Many of the videos you find online around improper care are done by unlicensed chiropractors or are created as rage bait. While normal chiropractic treatment may lead to temporary soreness, stiffness, or pain, these symptoms should disappear in the next few days or over the course of a few sessions. 

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) considers spinal manipulation relatively safe when performed by a trained and licensed practitioner. While there are potential complications that may come from spinal manipulations, chiropractic treatment should be used as complimentary care to medical treatment to mitigate any risk. 

Science-Based Medicine Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic science has come a long way, yet despite the care and attention it provides, many people are still speculative of its services. Sometimes the only way to convince someone is to show them how effective the services can be. Chiropractic Memphis Downtown provides consistent, effective chiropractic care to everyone, focusing on gentle care that doesn’t bother you or bring undue pain. If you want scientifically-backed chiropractic care, Chiropractic Memphis Downtown is here to help.