11 Surprising Facts About Chiropractors in Maple Grove
Chiropractor Maple Grove facts. In a recent survey of 5,442 adults, nearly 70% claimed to have a good understanding of what chiropractors do. Yet only 26% of those respondents had received chiropractic care within the last five years! As we'll see throughout this article, chiropractors and the treatments they provide are often misunderstood.
If you're suffering from back pain, whiplash, or a sports injury, there's a lot that you may not know. Let's look at 11 often little-known facts about chiropractic care in Maple Grove.
Chiropractors Receive as Much Higher Education as Medical Doctors
This is one of the most common and persistent myths about chiropractic care. Only 15% of Americans are aware that it takes seven or more years of higher education to become a chiropractor. They even need to complete clinical residencies and pass board exams to obtain a license -- just like doctors.
Chiropractors Don't Push Bones "Back into Place"
Although this mischaracterization of chiropractic adjustments arose before the age of diagnostic imaging, it persists today. Decades of spine-related research have shown that vertebrae and joints rarely "pop out of place."
What actually happens is that stress or an injury to a joint either wholly or partially restricts movement. So a chiropractor performs a quick and targeted thrust that releases the muscular tension, thereby beginning the process of rehabilitation.
Chiropractors Train Their Fingers to Detect Subtle Irregularities
A chiropractor's reputation is determined by their ability to identify and treat issues within a hair's width. That isn't something you become proficient at without an incredible amount of practice. Some chiropractic colleges have students literally try to feel a strand of human hair through the pages in a phone book! Beyond being unbelievably precise, this level of training also ensures that the intensity of adjustments is gentle and finely tuned to the specific needs of individual chiropractic patients.
Chiropractic Adjustments Have Been Around for Thousands of Years
Over 2,000 years ago, Greek physician Hippocrates (the creator of the Hippocratic oath) said, "Look to the spine for the cause of disease." And before him, medical practitioners in ancient China documented spinal manipulation techniques to treat back pain and other ailments.
But chiropractic truly moved out of the realm of traditional medicine and into the realm of academic study in 1895, when Daniel Palmer gave the first chiropractic adjustment in Davenport, Iowa. Since then, the field has expanded to include over 60,000 chiropractors in North America alone.
Chiropractors Pay Pennies on the Dollar for Malpractice Insurance
What better gauge of a medical practitioner's reliability is there than a low insurance premium? While general practice doctors often pay six-figure sums to protect themselves from patient lawsuits, chiropractors tend to pay a tenth of that. Why is that? Chiropractic is one of the safest forms of healthcare, with an incredibly low rate of treatment complications. One study found that the rate of adverse effects from chiropractic adjustments is far below that of over-the-counter painkillers!
Chiropractors Offer Pain Relief for Pregnant Women
People often assume that chiropractic is only for whiplash, sciatica, or herniated discs. Chiropractors also provide natural and drug-free relief for several pregnancy-related issues, including leg cramps, lower back pain, constipation, and even morning sickness. After the baby is born, regular adjustments can also help mothers strengthen their back and core to better handle breastfeeding, bending over to pick up the child, and several other stressful tasks.
Chiropractors Can Treat Children Who Are Too Young to Describe Their Issue
Parents rarely know pediatric chiropractic care is a treatment option for their children. However, many chiropractors specialize in identifying and treating spine-related issues experienced by infants, toddlers, and children. These adjustments are tender and often provide relief from conditions like colic, bed-wetting, ear infections, behavioral problems, and more. Sometimes, starting adjustments earlier in life can prevent more serious issues from developing down the road.
Chiropractors Help Patients Increase Brain Activity
Chiropractic therapy has been shown to enhance bodily processes, reduce inflammation, regulate hormones, improve muscle strength, and more. In terms of its positive impacts on the mind, studies have repeatedly shown that chiropractic care can help increase cognitive function. One study found that after just four weeks of chiropractic adjustments, patients had increased activity in the prefrontal cortex -- the area of the brain associated with higher reasoning and processing.
Chiropractors Recommend Lifestyle Changes for Overall Health
Unlike many other medical professionals, chiropractors try to combine holistic and conventional approaches to health. This means offering treatments and therapies that target specific problems while also helping patients make lifestyle changes that strengthen their immune system and quality of life.
Chiropractors may help their patients improve results from dieting, exercising, sleeping and even stress management. These lifestyle changes support chiropractic adjustments to create lasting wellness, rather than just temporary symptom relief.
Chiropractors Help Patients With and Without Insurance
Chiropractic treatment is covered in some form or another by most insurance plans. While the details vary from provider to provider, you should be eligible for monthly adjustments if you're insured by Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, Aetna, or UnitedHealthcare, to name a few.
If you don't have insurance (or want to avoid involving your provider), that won't be a problem either! Dr. Tieri and the Total Spine Health & Injury team have experience helping patients with and without insurance.
Chiropractic Adjustments Don't Hurt!
Most people are understandably nervous and anxious before their first chiropractic adjustment. Based on how popular media typically portrays sessions, it's not hard to see why. In reality, an adjustment is probably something you should look forward to! Most sessions are gentle and sometimes relaxing. Even adjustments that require more intense movements than average leave most patients feeling relaxed, rejuvenated, and restored.
Chiropractic Care in Maple Grove
Hopefully, this article paints a clearer picture of chiropractors and the treatments they offer. If you're still anxious or unclear about what to expect, Dr. Tieri and the team at Total Spine Health & Injury are more than happy to answer any questions or address any concerns you may have before your first adjustment. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Tieri at Total Spine Health & Injury.
