Why do so many people dislike Chiropractors?

Question

Some people think Chiropracters are "quacks" and they would never go to one. What are the reasons for this?

Answer 1

Its not that many people dislike chiropractors, its the problem that many people truly do not understand what it is that we do exactly. Chiropractors are specialists in treating disorders that involve the musculoskeletal system, a fancy medical term for muscles and bones. We treat pain conditions and injuries whether it be from sports injuries, car accidents, or just plain wear and tear over the years. A majority of the profession specialize in nutrition, radiology, or pain management. An overwhelming majority do business with medical doctors and orthopedic surgeons to handle complex cases outside of our scope that requires drugs or surgery. But Almost always, any person that sustains injury will benefit from manual medicine and rehab that chiropractors provide. Now, that you know this, won't you be more willing to come see a chiropractor because many people don't know the services that we provide. Chiropractors have at least a Bachelors Degree prior to being accepted into a 4 year chiropractic program, and we hold the degree of Doctor of Chiropractic and we are regulated by strict board requirements similar to the medical board. Times are changing, many people are more accepting of us, many still don't know what we do, but none of that matters to me personally. As a doctor, the only thing that matters is treating my patients with the best manual medicine and getting them well. If I can't help them, I will most definitely find someone who can. You win some, you lose some, but at the end of the day, I know I gave every patient my BEST shot and it feels great to take just an ounce of their pain away and give them some relief. I just wish, that in my lifetime if not the next, chiropractors would get that respect and dignity we truly deserve, we work too hard to go through school and then practice twice as hard as any doctor to be ridiculed, oppressed, and downright disrespected.

Answer 2

There are unfortunately more than a few rotten eggs in my profession, but the best way to get a good Chiropractor is to check out a Blue Cross/Shield or other insurance website and choose one from there. Even if you arent insured they will have had an extensive background check, and they will use only approved and scientific methods to treat your conditions. They may also offer a good discount plan if you pay out of pocket on the day of service - doesn't have to be a bzillion times - 8 to 12 is almost always enough (i.e., no "quacks" doing things that have nothing to do with real chiropractic.)
Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I think that first you need to remember that a chiropractor is a chiropractor not a doctor. It may serve it's purpose for some, but it is a completely different approach to healing, and cannot heal everything. Many people are under the misconception that they can replace their doctor with a chiropractor, but if something were to go wrong, who do they go to?? I'll tell you, they go to their Doctor. I think doctors lose respect for the profession because they blame the chiropractors for this misconception. I won't pretend to know the politics behind this relationship or the overall relationship with the pharmaceutical companies, but as a clinical microbiologist, I can tell you that popping your bones will not prevent or heal infection. Everyone serves their own purpose and not all healing methods come with due respect whether they seem to be successful or not. Alternative medicine, in any form is competition to medical doctors. A good Doctor should know enough about these other methods to steer their patients in the right direction when necessary without feeling threatened. His confidence in discussing alternatives with his patients could be what keeps them entrusting their health care to him.

Answer 4

people in general badmouth anything not understood

for the quack commentators

1972..Medicare defined Chiropractors as physicians under medicare rules
The Veterans Administration Hospitals have been adding Chiropractors to the staffs as budget permits

Many state statues define Chiropractors as primary care physicians

A chiropractor was the head of the State Board of Health in Mississippi 5 or 6 years ago..Ray Foxworth, DC is you care to check the data.

I know many Chiropractors ( MD's and DO's also) who freely refer to each other. I know no DC who treats cancer. I know many who discover life threatening illnesses, cancer included, who quickly refer to the appropriate specialty.

If you check the faculty at the 15 or so Chiropractic Colleges you will find that many of the instructors are MD's, PhD's.
If you want to know the training
http://www.nccam.nih.gov and follow the links to education
More than ample research supports the profession and is easy to find on the internet. Try American Chiropractic Association

Answer 5

Well, the main reason is there is no scientific basis for what chiropractors do. Also there have been a number of cases where people have gone to chiropractors and come back in more pain than before they went. That said chiropractors have helped a lot more people than they have damaged, people are always afraid of the unknown. It's human nature.

Answer 6

Because many holistic beleivers think that the body will align itself naturally over time. They beleive that the source of the problem is in the nerves and muscles which puts the bones in the wrong postitions. Whereas massage therapy will soothe muscles and relax the body.

Answer 7

Because legit Chiropractors and Snake-Oil Chiropractors are all lumped into the same category. Its the same logic as why do people consider all contractors crooks.

Answer 8

Some just dont feel any immediate change, or not a change at all
Many just flat out don't like the place and have it associated with bad things
With everyones daily schedule, fitting in a visit to your good ol friend the chiropractor really isnt going to make anyone like them anymore

Answer 9

I am not sure. I used to work at a chiropractic office and I thought it was great. I love getting adjusted. I think maybe people are just scared of "unconventional medicine". And there are those horror stories of people having strokes after having their neck's adjusted, but people don't know that it isn't the chiropractor's fault, it is because the patient had a preexisting undetectable condition!

Chiropractic care has been proven to aid people with many conditions and diseases. I wouldn't go so far as to say they cure them, but they help with the negative symptons.

Answer 10

I dont think they are quacks but there has to be a better way to treat people than flipping them around and scaring the bejesus out of them.