What is Chiropractic Care and How is It Different from Medical Practice?
I get asked this question from time to time and it does make me smile. I get it, there is a consensus out there that there is inter fighting between GP’s and Chiropractors. Chiropractors also fight with Physio’s and Osteopaths apparently.
I just haven’t seen it, maybe I don’t get upset with GP’s prescribing painkillers as some other Chiropractors do or when a physio is massaging a tendon it does not make my blood boil. My belief is that each patient should be free to choose who they see and do it for their own reasons. When we are forced and have no choice and end up seeing a practitioner or doing a therapy that we don’t want to do, this is where I have a problem.
I studied at the AECC in Bournemouth and in my final year back in 2014 I remember it as clear as day. It was a dreary day in the usually ‘sunny’ Boscombe (if you haven’t been to Boscombe, it is 2 miles East of Bournemouth pier, 11 miles of golden coastline from Sandbanks to Christchurch, shameless plug). We had to do a day shadowing in a GP clinic, I chose Chiropractic because I didn’t want to be a GP, so the thought of having to spend a day in a GP clinic filled me with dread.
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I remember arriving at the clinic and I was introduced to the GP I was shadowing, she was fun, full of energy and very excited for me to be there. The opposite of what I had expected. We had a busy morning of seeing patients and she was having a blast with them, cracking jokes and providing valuable healthcare advice.
She was even getting me involved and asking my opinion on the musculoskeletal conditions (not that I had applied much of my textbook knowledge in practice, but this gave me a chance). She was genuinely interested in what I had to say, and I hope the patients appreciated my advice.
I thought as I left ‘I hope all GPs are like this when I start my practice.’……cue the harsh reality check.
Not all GPs were as inviting as my Boscombe friend. Let’s discuss why.
How do Chiropractors differ from medical doctors (MDs)?
Chiropractors spend 5 years learning about the nervous system and the spine. MDs spend 5 years learning about the whole body, to prescribe medications and to be experts in diagnostics and referrals.
Chiropractors spend a lot of their time in education learning about diagnostics, pharmacology, physiology and anatomy. They do a lot more hands on work and rehab to be able to work with more musculoskeletal issues than a medical student would.
Chiropractors need to be able to identify any sinister issues and make appropriate referrals, but if a patient came to me with shortness of breath and palpitations, I would be referring them to an MD straight away.
The science behind Chiropractic
This is where several MDs will struggle to accept Chiropractic as an effective form of treatment for back and neck pain a there has been limited research proving its effectiveness up until 2010. In 2010 the Brontfort report was published showing that Chiropractic is one of the most effective forms of treatment for acute low back pain, migraines and acute neck pain to name a few.
Since the Brontfort report there has been a lot more investment into Chiropractic and subsequent good quality studies have been performed showing the effectiveness. Plus, Heidi Haavik has performed incredible research in to the effectiveness of Chiropractic in to neurology and the benefits of Chiropractic care in to later life.
Before this a lot of the last generation of GPs were well within their rights to dismiss a treatment method that had minimal research behind it. But now with the backing of these studies plus the growing anecdotal evidence behind the Chiropractic and the success stories, it is becoming difficult to ignore.
Coupled with the fact that we have just gone through a health pandemic and society is looking for ways to become healthier without drugs and medical doctor. Chiropractic and other alternative health methods are a great choice.
Is Chiropractic safe?
It Is safer than taking painkillers and much safer than surgery. With painkillers there are more common side effects. A side effect of Chiropractic is that you may feel stiff or sore from where the body is responding to the treatment, but this shouldn’t last more than 48 hours.
Other more sinister side effects are rare with Chiropractic care, especially when a proper examination and consultation has taken place. We do this with all of our patients, and we have x-rays on site and utilise this if needs be to ensure ethe safety of our patients.
If you are on the fence about Chiropractic, why not come to one of our taster consultation days and see what you think. Email iza@westchiropractic.co.uk to find out more.
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If you do know someone who wants more advice, please send them our details. You can send them this assessment as well to diagnose their back pain. It is a great tool to understand where your back pain is coming from, it is free and takes 60 seconds. Click here for assessment
