On the spectrum of alternative medical treatments, the chiropractic profession falls very close to the mainstream end. Chiropractors receive recognized medical degrees from specialized schools, and their services are generally covered by health insurance if prescribed by a physician. Nevertheless, chiropractors spend an inordinate amount of time defending their profession from critics in and out of the medical field.
Chiropractors receive a general education on human physiology and biology, but their main focus is the spinal column. Chiropractors believe that the vertebrae of the spine and neck are routinely pulled out of alignment by everyday stressors, and these misalignments (called subluxations) can be the root cause of a myriad of physical and mental ailments. By physically manipulating individual vertebrae or readjusting the entire spine, chiropractors hope to relieve pressure caused by subluxations.
Chiropractors often generate business by offering free spinal exams to the public. During these examinations, basic measurements are taken to reveal any imbalances in spinal alignment. One shoulder may be measurably higher than the other, or one arm may provide more resistance to stress than the other. Sometimes, clients of chiropractors will stand on two scales to determine a heavier side of the body. Critics suggest that almost every human has some form of spinal imbalance but this is not necessarily an indicator of poor health.
Chiropractic treatments can be said to fall somewhere between those provided by a trained spinal doctor and a physical therapist. The term chiropractic literally means 'through the hands', so much of what chiropractors do is hands-on manipulation or adjustment of the patient's spine and back. Special tables allow chiropractors to place patients in traction or compression. Sometimes the spine is 'popped' by applying pressure between each successive vertebrae. Other times chiropractors may use a twisting motion to put the neck vertebrae back into alignment.
Critics of the chiropractic profession point to all of this spinal manipulation as a potentially dangerous practice. These critics argue that almost all joints will generate a satisfying 'pop' as gases in the cartilage are released and that therefore the popping doesn't mean mean that the joint is more aligned than before the manipulation. Critics of chiropractic medicine also argue that neck vertebrae are especially vulnerable to fractures leading to paralysis thereby making the risks of serious injury outweigh the health benefits.
Chiropractors, however, adamantly defend their profession by pointing to the number of potentially dangerous services, such as prescription of drugs and performance of surgeries, provided on a daily basis by spinal surgeons and physical therapists. Chiropractors note that patients benefit from the long-term effects of spinal manipulations, not necessarily a one-time visit; and that physical manipulation of the spine and neck can be compared with deep tissue massage techniques, both of which purport to reduce stress and restore damaged nerve pathways. Chiropractors also point out that many health insurance companies cover their services, which means enough clients may benefit from chiropractic treatments to justify their expense.
