Is a Chiropractor Considered a Doctor?

Dec 24, 2020

Is a Chiropractor Considered a DoctorWhen it comes to finding a doctor to help treat your illness or injury, it can be confusing knowing what type of doctor to see. We are most familiar with our primary care doctor and what to do in emergencies, but what about pain that won’t go away? Or if you need specific treatment after a car accident? Consider a chiropractor in College Park and learn more about how their natural, non-invasive approach to a variety of illnesses and injuries may be right for you.

Here are four myths about chiropractors and the truth about how chiropractors can help you.

Myth: Chiropractors aren’t doctors.
Truth: Chiropractors are medical professionals with doctorate degrees.

Chiropractors have to attend advanced levels of education after an undergraduate program in order to become a Doctor of Chiropractic. While chiropractors don’t go to medical school and therefore aren’t titled medical doctors, they are still medical professionals who provide diagnoses and treatments to the same types of injuries and ailments as a medical doctor would. Chiropractors not only complete doctoral-level education and training, but they also must get certified by the state in which they plan to practice.

Some chiropractors may have their own practice or work in a practice with other chiropractors. Other times, chiropractors may work in a practice that also includes other types of doctors, like orthopedic doctors, physical therapists, and neurologists. Some chiropractors also focus on car accident injuries. When you look for a chiropractor in College Park you will likely find examples of both types of chiropractic practices and there are benefits to both styles.

Myth: Chiropractors don’t have enough training.
Truth: Chiropractors study how to treat the whole body.

Chiropractors complete roughly the same hours of classroom training as medical doctors. A degree in chiropractic takes about four years to complete and includes clinical training where future chiropractors get hands-on experience in chiropractic techniques and working with a variety of patients. Chiropractors study the nervous system and the musculoskeletal system just like medical doctors do. In addition to learning complex anatomy, chiropractic education also focuses on how the body functions at its best and how to focus on the body as a whole.

Training for chiropractors is focused on how the nervous system functions and how it is affected by structures in your body like your bones, muscles, and tendons. The brain communicates to the rest of the body via the nervous system and to all the nerves throughout your body. Your spinal column actually houses the nervous system and serves as a conduit for the brain’s ability to communicate effectively. When any part of your spine or supportive muscles, tendons, and other tissues are damaged or diseased, it can affect your brain’s ability to effectively communicate with the rest of your body. Chiropractic treatments seek to identify these parts that are out of place and realign them so your body can function optimally.

Myth: Chiropractors are dangerous.
Truth: Chiropractors use gentle, natural treatment approaches.

Chiropractic treatments are gentle, all-natural, and non-invasive. Chiropractors do not prescribe medications and prefer to focus on how the body can heal itself naturally. Seeing a chiropractor for treatment can actually help you avoid more dangerous and invasive procedures like surgery. Surgical procedures can have very long recovery periods and may come with complications. Similarly, over-medicating an injury or pain can actually mask signs and symptoms of what is really going on. Medications can also come with a risk of addiction and abuse, while chiropractic care offers a natural and effective approach to pain management.

Chiropractic adjustments are one of the more well-known types of treatments by chiropractors. Some associate adjustments with a popping or cracking sound and think this is due to bones cracking. Actually, chiropractic adjustments are a gentle way to realign vertebrae or joints and the sound that sometimes occurs is actually the sound of air bubbles made of carbon dioxide. Adjustments are safe when performed by a fully trained and licensed chiropractor.

Myth: Chiropractors only work on the spine.
Truth: Chiropractors can treat disorders of the whole body.

Contrary to popular belief, chiropractors do more than just crack your back! In fact, chiropractors can help with muscle and nerve disorders too. While chiropractic adjustments focus on the spine and joints, these techniques involve nearby muscles and tissues that support those bones. Chiropractors focus on you as a whole person and can also use chiropractic adjustments to help relieve ailments like headaches, herniated discs, poor blood flow, irritable bowel syndrome. It is also a natural way to combat anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders.

Schedule a consultation with a chiropractor at AICA Orthopedics in College Park to learn more about how chiropractic care can help you. Our team of chiropractors and other specialists will work together to provide you with a comprehensive treatment plan so you can experience health and wellness.

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