Millions of people across the world have experienced the benefits of Chiropractic care over the last 130 years. Others have been hesitant to give it a chance because of some misconception they have about what Chiropractic is, what it does, how it works, or who can benefit.

Let’s investigate some of the most common myths about chiropractic care (in no specific order).

Myth #1. Chiropractic is Only Good For Helping With Neck Pain or Lower Back Pain.

While many people benefit from chiropractic care in these painful and stressful times, the truth of the matter is that the benefits of Chiropractic care run much deeper.

When the bones of the spine aren’t working correctly, it puts stress on the nervous system underneath, and it often hurts. It can be debilitating and life-altering.  All we want is relief!

We adjust (re-establish proper motion to) the bones of the spine so that we can normalize the function of the nerves underneath. The spine houses the delicate central nervous system, and branches of nerves between the bones of the spine take vital info from the brain to the body and back. When the bones get stuck or out of proper position, that communication can be altered or blocked. The body then can’t work like it is supposed to.

Because those nerves control nearly everything the body does, Chiropractic adjustments can affect far more than pain relief. In fact, the pain is only there so that your body can tell your brain about the problem, and it doesn’t represent the problem itself. As we alleviate the cause of the pain (the stuck bones and nerve irritation), both the pain AND other seemingly unrelated issues can get better. These effects can be far-reaching, and may include less fatigue/better energy, better coordination and balance, greater concentration and focus, improved sleep, fewer digestive complaints, improved urinary control, fewer headaches, balance function, improved sports performance…

The optimum expression of your innate potential comes when your nervous system is working at its greatest capacity, and this comes when we remove the stress from the spine. Bottom line: you don’t need pain to experience all the benefits that true chiropractic care has to offer!

Myth #2. Chiropractic Care is Only For Adults.

Anyone with a spine and nervous system can benefit from chiropractic care. We just do it a bit differently for different people. In our office, we provide care for newborns, infants, toddlers, school-age kids, tweens, teens, young adults, as well as gen-Z, gen-X, moms, dads, aunties, uncs, cougars, silver foxes, codgers, old-timers, boomers, grammys and grampys…

How we approach care for an individual is specific to that person and their needs. Infants require very low force and very specific adjusting performed by hand with gentle touch or handheld instruments that perform a “tap” on the bones to get them moving correctly. Seniors and sensitive adults may also thrive under similar “instrument-based” care. Other people prefer the stereotypical “manual adjustments” performed by hand, where you can hear clicks, cracks and pops with the release of pressure in the joints of the spine. We also work with the soft tissues necessary to get things working correctly in the joints and nerves.

We tailor your care to your needs and preferences, and choose the best way to get your spine and nervous system (or that of your child) to work and feel their best!

(Some people actually think our office is just for kids – also not true!)

Myth #3: Chiropractic Care is Dangerous or Risky.

Chiropractic care is extremely safe, AND we take precautions to make it even safer. Through a thorough health history discussion and our assessment and evaluation, we determine the approach that best suits each client. Because we are working to return the body to its normal state of function through gentle adjustments, and remove interference that has accumulated, Chiropractic care is generally received very well by the body. We aren’t putting anything foreign into the body (like drugs), and we aren’t permanently altering the exquisite structure of the body (like surgery). We are simply making the body and nervous system work like they are supposed to.

In nearly 20 years of practice (the last 17 years right here at DBC), we have had zero serious adverse events, and over 420 5-star reviews.

Simple, safe, effective.

Myth #4: Chiropractic Care is Expensive.

It is true that we provide a valuable service, and believe in a value-for-value exchange. We charge rates that match what is “usual and customary” in our area. We aren’t the highest priced chiropractic office in this area, and we aren’t the lowest (but we strive to be the best). We hope that helps you get the care your family needs.

Chiropractic care is covered by nearly all extended health benefits. Any coverage is better than none. The coverage amounts vary widely, and are determined by the people who pick the benefits package – your employer. If you have little coverage, it is so your employer can pay less to the insurance company for your premiums.  All coverage helps offset costs, however.

The amount of care you need depends on where on the health spectrum you are starting from, the level of lifestyle stresses we are working to offset, and your goals. We formulate a plan specifically for you.

In the end, the value of chiropractic care is derived by giving you back the ability to better enjoy the life you love and deserve. It is difficult to put a price on allowing you to play with your grandkids, breastfeed your baby, work or play at a high level without pain, or be the best parent you can be. We know it requires an exchange, a commitment, a partnership and some effort, but we know you are worth it!

Investments like chiropractic care aren’t expensive, because they pay you back in immeasurable ways.

Myth #5: Chiropractors Aren’t “Real” Doctors.

Chiropractic and Medicine are not the same. We have different tools and different approaches, as well as completely different objectives. Historically, allopathic (Western/conventional) medicine and medical doctors aim to override symptoms by overriding bodily processes. Meanwhile Chiropractic care aims to restore function and make the body work as it should, thereby alleviating the cause of those symptoms.

Both Doctors of Chiropractic and Medical Doctors complete an undergraduate degree and a 4-year postgraduate doctoral program. Our educations have similarities in length and complexity, with some distinct difference in areas of focus.

Medical doctors have more training in pharmacology and pathology, so they can treat diseases with drugs and surgery. Chiropractors, on the other hand, get much more training in anatomy, physiology, neurology, biomechanics (how the body works physically), nutrition, and normal physiology, so we can help return the body to its normal functional state.

Chiropractors do not practice medicine, and medical doctors often have limited understanding of chiropractic. We are separate and distinct, and both may have a place at the right time in your quest for health and longevity. (Hint: if you break your leg, or your appendix bursts, go see a medical doctor. If you want to optimize your health, and feel and function your best for the rest of your life, we may be a better fit.)

Myth #6: Your Medical Doctor Has to Give You Permission/Referral For Chiropractic Care.

You don’t need a referral to see one of our chiropractors. There are no outside gatekeepers between you and our team. If you feel we are the best fit for you and your family, let’s get to work!

Your coverage under extended health benefits may be another story. There are a couple of extended health benefits plans that require a referral from an MD for massage therapy, physiotherapy, or other providers, but we rarely see this for chiropractic care. This is not done for safety, but for corporate savings for your employer. Your employer pays less for benefits packages that require more hoops for you to jump through, because you will be less likely to use them.

You can check your benefits first, if you have them, to be certain that no referral is required to get reimbursed. And, if you are one of the rare people who happens to find this, talk to your employer or HR department about making a better investment in your health and well-being, and that of your family.

Myth #7: You Have to “Get Cracked” to Get Adjusted.

The stereotypical chiropractic adjustment approach is referred to as “manual adjusting”, and uses a small, quick force applied by the Chiropractor’s hand to get the bones of the spine moving as they should, alleviating the stress on the underlying nerves. This can elicit a release of pressure from the spinal joints that can be felt and even heard like a click, or pop. Nothing is breaking, just pressure released from within the joints that connect the spinal bones together. There is often an easing of tension, and noticeable change in mobility right after the adjustment.

Manual adjustments are very effective, but not the only way to get things working correctly. We use a different approach with over of half of our patients. There are a few very effective options if manual adjusting isn’t something you want, need, or feel comfortable with.

Instrument-based adjusting uses small handheld devices that delivers a light tap on the bones of the spine to restore motion and alleviate stress on the nerves. This approach works exceptionally well with kids and seniors, but is equally effective for most people.

The 7 chiropractic adjusting tables we use in our office are each different, allowing for different approaches, and help us deliver the best adjustments for you.

Whether you like the manual style of adjusting, or cringe at the thought of it, we can work with you to find the right approach that is most effective and comfortable for you. In our office, you can “say no to the crack.” 😉

There are a lot of ideas out there on what Chiropractic care is, and is not.

Our clients come from Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, Scarborough, Oshawa, Markham, Toronto, Bowmanville, Courtice, Port Perry, Uxbridge, and many other surrounding communities. Thousands of families have sought our help in overcoming challenges of all sorts, and we hope that debunking some of these myths can help a few more!

Chiropractic care with our well-trained Doctors can offer solutions that may be able to help you or someone you know. Please share this with someone you think may benefit from Chiropractic care at DBC.