by Content
- What kind of education and training do chiropractors have?
- Is chiropractic regulated in Canada?
- Is chiropractic covered by government health plans?
- How many people see chiropractors?
- What conditions do chiropractors treat?
- Why do chiropractors take X-rays?
- Is chiropractic really scientific?
- Isn’t there a risk of stroke associated with neck manipulation?
- Why do chiropractors treat children?
- Do chiropractors refer patients to medical doctors when necessary?
- Do medical doctors refer patients to chiropractors?
- Do chiropractors take a medical history?
- Once you go to a chiropractor, don’t they make you keep going for the rest of your life?
- Is every patient’s treatment the same?
- Even if I want to refer to a chiropractor, can patients afford it?
- How can I find a suitable chiropractor for my patient if I want to make a referral?
What kind of education and training do chiropractors have?
Chiropractors are educated as primary contact health care practitioners, with an emphasis on neuromusculoskeletal diagnosis and treatment. Preparation for the practice of chiropractic is concentrated on three areas: basic training in the biological and health sciences, specialized training in the chiropractic discipline, and extensive clinical training. Becoming a chiropractor in Canada requires a minimum of 6 years of post-secondary education including no less than 4500 hours of classroom and clinical instruction at an institution approved by the Council on Chiropractic Education Canada.
Is chiropractic regulated in Canada?
Like medicine and dentistry, chiropractic is a self-regulating profession, and each provincial chiropractic regulatory body has the authority to grant a license to practice chiropractic. There are Chiropractic Acts in all 10 provinces and the Yukon Territory which establish a self-regulatory process which includes extensive testing for licensure. In all provinces, licensure requirements include a minimum of two years pre-professional university studies, graduation from an accredited chiropractic institution (4 or 5 years), and passing national and provincial board examinations.
Is chiropractic covered by government health plans?
Chiropractic services are partially covered by the provincial health plans of Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. Most federal government departments (such as the RCMP and Veteran’s Affairs) also cover chiropractic services. All worker’s compensation boards and most employer and other third party insurance plans cover chiropractic services as well, thereby making it affordable health care by most Canadians.
How many people see chiropractors?
Public surveys and published studies are finding that the proportion of Canadians that are consulting chiropractors is rising every year. Statistics Canada data found that over 11 percent (3 million) Canadians consulted a chiropractor in 1996. The figures today are closer to 15 percent, or over 4 million Canadians annually. There are approximately 35 million office visits to chiropractors each year.
What conditions do chiropractors treat?
Chiropractors are experts trained in the neuromusculoskeletal system . They diagnose and treat disorders of the spine and other body joints by adjusting the spinal column or through other corrective manipulation. Chiropractors provide conservative management of neuromusculoskeletal disorders including, but not limited to, back, neck and head pain (over 90 percent of conditions treated). They also advise patients on corrective exercises, lifestyle and nutrition.
Why do chiropractors take X-rays?
Chiropractors are trained in physical diagnosis including the use of X-rays. The science of radiology is a major component of chiropractic education, and chiropractors are licensed in each province, through chiropractic legislation, to take and interpret X-rays for their patients. An important reason for the use of X-rays is to detect contra-indications for spinal manipulation.
Is chiropractic really scientific? [Top]
Chiropractic is a healing discipline firmly grounded in science. Few other health care interventions have been assessed as extensively as chiropractic manipulation, both in terms of safety and effectiveness. Furthermore, few other health care professions have been as thoroughly researched as chiropractic. There have been at least six formal government inquiries into chiropractic worldwide over the last 25 years and all have concluded that contemporary chiropractic care is safe, effective, cost-effective and have recommended public funding for chiropractic services. In addition, there have been countless scientific clinical studies (randomized controlled trials included) assessing the appropriateness, effectiveness, and/or cost-effectiveness of spinal manipulation or chiropractic manipulation, most notably for low back pain. The Medical Research Council of Canada now offers research grants in partnership with the Canadian Chiropractic Association to chiropractors and other scientists for high quality, chiropractic research.
Isn’t there a risk of stroke associated with neck manipulation?
The risk of stroke from neck manipulation is extremely remote, and probably not greater than the risk from natural neck movements such as tilting your head into a sink for hair washing, or turning your head to back up when driving. Medical literature estimates the risk of having a stroke that may be related to chiropractic treatments to be anywhere from 1 in 400,000 to 1 in several million. In fact, the risk of serious complications or even death attributed to the use of NSAIDs is much greater for neck pain than the slight risk of injury from chiropractic manipulation. Chiropractors are well trained to recognize risk factors in patients, and treatments are not performed when there is a risk identified.
Why do chiropractors treat children?
Chiropractic treatment is based on the basic biological and physiological sciences which apply equally to children as they do to the adults. Chiropractic treatment is as beneficial to children as it is to adults, and children should be seen by chiropractors when appropriate. The scientific literature is now demonstrating that low back pain is a very prevalent condition amongst school children. For example a 1992 study in the American Journal of Public Health found that the prevalence of low back pain in adolescents up to age 15 is over 36 percent, and thus concluding that LBP in adolescents is a serious public health problem.1 As well, children can benefit by periodic spinal examinations where the chiropractor will look for clues to possible postural weaknesses that may predispose children to later problems related to their spine and skeleton.
Do chiropractors refer patients to medical doctors when necessary?
Yes, like medical doctors, chiropractors refer patients to other professionals when they feel it is appropriate. Chiropractors are well trained to recognize risk factors as well as individual disease patterns and will not hesitate to make a referral when it is in the best interest of the patient’s health.
Do medical doctors refer patients to chiropractors?
Absolutely. Recent studies have shown that the majority of medical doctors in Canada refer patients to chiropractors for musculoskeletal conditions. For example, a 1995 study in the Canadian Family Physician found that almost 60 percent of Canadian family physicians perceived chiropractic as useful or very useful and that over 83 percent referred patients to chiropractors. 2
Do chiropractors take a medical history?
Like M.D.’s, the chiropractor will take a detailed health history during the first visit, prior to initial treatment. This will include details on lifestyle and risk factors to give the chiropractor a full picture of the patient’s health in order to determine the best treatment. As well, a detailed health history is important to rule out any contra-indications and fully investigate risk factors before a diagnosis and treatment recommendation can be reached.
Once you go to a chiropractor, don’t they make you keep going for the rest of your life?
The hands-on nature of the chiropractic treatment is essentially what sends patients back to the chiropractor a number of times. To be treated by a chiropractor a patient needs to be in his or her office. In contrast, a course of treatment from medical doctors often involves a pre-established plan that is conducted at home (ie. taking a course of antibiotics once a day for a couple of weeks). A chiropractor may provide acute, preventative and/or maintenance care thus making a certain number of visits sometimes necessary. The average number of annual visits per patient is eight.
Is every patient’s treatment the same?
The treatment a patient receives is related to the specific condition diagnosed by the chiropractor, and will vary from person to person depending on each person’s unique situation. Like M.D.’s chiropractors follow generally accepted protocols and guidelines.
Even if I want to refer to a chiropractor, can patients afford it?
Chiropractic services are partially covered by the health plans of five provinces, all worker’s compensation boards, most federal departments and a majority of private insurer plans. Most employees have chiropractic coverage under their work insurance plan as well. Therefore, cost of care should not be an impediment to referring your patients to a chiropractor.
How can I find a suitable chiropractor for my patient if I want to make a referral?
As with any other health care professional, patients usually seek the services of a specific chiropractor through the referral of friends and acquaintances. Some family physicians are now working with chiropractors in a group practice setting or referring patients to one. Therefore, your medical colleagues could provide you with a name of a local chiropractor. Don’t hesitate to visit the chiropractors in your building or down the street from your practice. The Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA) has a chiropractor locator service on its web site, for finding chiropractors through the first three digits of the postal code. Only chiropractors who are CCA members and therefore must have malpractice insurance coverage are on this site.
References
1. Olsen et al. The Epidemiology of Low Back Pain in an Adolescent Population. American Journal of Public Health. 1992; 82(4): 606-608.
2. Verhoef, M.J., Sutherland. L.R. Alternative Medicine and General Practitioners; Opinions and Behaviour. Canadian Family Physician 1995; 41: 1005-1011.