Chiropractic Facts
Chiropractors are Real Doctors
To graduate with a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, one is required to complete 3-4 years of undergraduate education (standard pre-med requirements) and 4 years of chiropractic education, including over 4,500 classroom hours of health-specific sciences (more than the average medical school curriculum).
Doctors of Chiropractic are the most educated general physicians in the areas of Anatomy, Nutrition, and Neurology. Upon graduation they, like other doctors, must pass rigorous National Board Examinations and demanding state testing before being granted the privilege to practice. In addition, chiropractic doctors attend postgraduate seminars to stay current on the latest scientific research.
Chiropractors are Well Educated
A minimum of four academic years of study at a Chiropractic college is required for the doctor of Chiropractic degree. This does not include undergraduate degrees many chiropractors have before entering in their postgraduate education in Chiropractic.
In Oregon licensed Chiropractors can perform minor surgery, deliver babies, perform male and female exams, perform blood and urine chemistries and order x-rays, CTs and MRIs.
The following list includes some of the basic foundations of a Chiropractic education:
- Human anatomy: Human dissection and topographical anatomy
- Neurology: central nervous system and peripheral nervous system
- Embryology
- Biochemistry
- Physiology: cellular physiology, general physiology, cardiovascular physiology, endocrine physiology, neurophysiology, digestion and nutritional physiology, renal and pulmonary physiology
- Pathology: microbiology, general pathology, hematology, public health and sanitation, neuromusculoskeletal pathology, cardiovascular pathology, gastrointestinal and urogenital pathology
- Laboratory procedures: blood and urine analysis
- Roentgenology (x-ray): physics, positioning and diagnosis
- Diagnosis: roentgenological, physical, regional, and neuromusculoskeletal diagnosis
- Clinical human behavior
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- Pediatrics and febrile disorders
- Geriatrics and cardiovascular disorders
- Toxicology
- Dermatology
- Otolaryngology
- Psychology
- Dietetics
- Orthopedics
- Physical therapy
- First aid and emergency procedures
- Spinal analysis
- Principles and practice of Chiropractic: manipulation, mobilization, manual therapy, adjustive techniques and clinic.
Chiropractors Treat the Whole Body
Chiropractors provide effective treatment for all types of soft tissue disorders, not just back and neck ailments.
What you may not be aware of is chiropractic's success in treating a number of non-soft tissue conditions like dysmenorrhea (painful menses), ulcers, migraine headaches, and ear infections in children. While we cannot claim to cure these conditions, we believe that many of these problems can be mimicked, aggravated and some times caused by disruptions in the nervous system as a result of spinal abnormalities. By correcting these spinal abnormalities like the vertebral subluxation, chiropractic has helped thousands of individuals overcome these conditions and regain control of their lives.
Here is a list of some of the conditions treated in our clinic.
- Arthritis
- Ankle Injuries
- Back Pain/Injuries
- Bursitis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Dupuytren's contracture
- Foot pain/injury
- Frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis
- Gait Imbalances
- Headaches
- Hip Pain
- Ilio tibial band syndrome
- Joint dysfunction
- Knee meniscus injuries
- Knee Pain
- Muscle pulls or strains
- Muscle weakness
- Myofascitis
- Neck Pain
- Nerve Entrapment Syndromes
- Plantar Fascitis
- Repetitive strain injuries
- Rib Pain
- Rotator cuff syndrome
- Scar Tissue Formation
- Sciatica
- Sexual Dysfunction
- Shoulder Pain
- Sports Injuries
- Thoracic outlet syndrome
- TMJ
- Whiplash Injuries
Chiropractic is Safe and Gentle
Most patients report that their chiropractic adjustments feel good!
Many patients feel instant relief immediately after their treatments. In fact, most look forward to their chiropractic treatments. The techniques used are safe, gentle and effective. Chiropractic is one of the safest and most gentle healing arts in the world. Although we utilize the most gentle, modern techniques available, any time there is inflammation there may also be slight tenderness. Be reassured that we do everything possible to minimize any patient discomfort. In patients suffering from severe bouts of back or neck pain, some discomfort may be experienced for obvious reasons, however, for most patients this is not the case.
"Popping" and "Cracking"
You may be familiar with the concept of, "cracking a back" or "popping" a bone back into place.
In our office the adjustment may be an osseous - moving of a bone - followed by soft tissue manipulation and extremity correction, cranial work, microcurrent and blocking procedures. Or it could be all "light touch" pressure.
At Pure Life Clinic, we want to truly "fine tune" your body, to make very sure that the nervous system is able to function at 100% optimum capacity, to let your bodies natural innate healing ability do it's job. We honor your nervous system.
Children and Chiropractic
Children have back pain and suffer from a wide array of injuries just as adults do.
Your child's spine is more susceptible to injury and nerve stress then ours - their spine is still growing. When one considers all the trauma a child's spine goes through growing up, with the falls, bumps and jars from such things as learning to walk, then run, then ride a bicycle, it is easy to see how their bodies can be injured.
If there is a problem developing, or the concerned parent wants to insure a proper growing, subluxation-free child, spinal care is imperative. Look for a child's warning signs: chronic fatigue, one hip or shoulder higher, uneven skirt hem, uneven sleeve length, foot turned in or out, neck tilt, can't sit or stand still, shoulder blades uneven or sticking out or "My kid's just not right."
Doctors of Chiropractic are licensed and trained to treat children and utilize a gentler type of treatment that is appropriate to a child's size, needs and diagnosis.
Children usually respond quickly to Chiropractic treatments and will feel little or no discomfort.
Ongoing Care
It's true, chiropractic helps you feel and stay healthier.
Just as regular maintenance visits are recommended for your car, and regular dental cleanings and check-ups are recommended for your teeth, regular chiropractic check-ups can help detect and prevent spinal stress or joint disorders.
Even if you have no symptoms at all, chiropractic can help you maintain your desired level of health and fitness. You may currently have spinal irregularities that exhibit no symptoms whatsoever. However, problems may arise in the future.
In short, chiropractic health care is a smart choice for most everyone, at any time-you'll stay healthier longer, and the time and energy (and money!) saved due to your preventive efforts can be spent on things that are fun to do. A better quality of life awaits you!
Chiropractic is Backed by Science
Chiropractic profession has accumulated a greater number of scientific trials on chiropractic than the medical profession has accumulated for many of the treatments rendered by medical doctors.
Chiropractors have always sought to provide the safest and most effective healing methods for their patients. In order to achieve this, the chiropractic profession has been dedicated to conducting scientific studies to improve their diagnostic methods and treatment techniques. In the last 20 years chiropractic health care has established an impressive array of scientific research that demonstrates the efficacy, safety and cost effectiveness of chiropractic care. There are many further studies currently underway, and several have been performed by medical doctors and government researchers in both the U.S. and a number of other countries.
Chiropractors and Your Spine
Your spine is the circuit board for your nervous system. The nerves that exit at the level of each vertebra of your spine travel to and innervate every gland, organ, muscle, and, indeed, every part of your body. These nerves integrate, organize, and regulate all living processes. Every vertebra that makes up your spine is like the circuit breaker at your house and your spine, as a whole, makes up the circuit breaker box.
You can fool with a light bulb in your house when the switch won’t make the light work, but if the circuit breaker is tripped that light won’t work. Your body is just like that - to get any part of your body to work it has to at least get nerve supply from the nerves exiting the spine.
These tripped circuit breakers in your body are called subluxations. Chiropractic care resolves subluxations through an adjustment to the spine and other joints in your body thereby eliminating nerve interference. Without nerve interference, your body’s innate intelligence is fully expressed and the inherent ability of your body to be self-healing is present.