Are Chiropractors Doctors?

When something feels off, you go to a doctor.

But are chiropractors doctors?

 

If you have ever been in a car accident, felt a twinge of neck pain, or thrown your back out, you probably considered going to a chiropractor.

But you may also have spent a good deal of time wondering if that was the right decision. Will a chiropractor be able to help? Is a chiropractic a “real” doctor? What can you expect from your visit?

At Oviedo Chiropractic, we understand why some of our patients are hesitant to seek out chiropractic care, but we also consider it our mission to reeducate them about how much chiropractors can benefit them.

 

Are Chiropractors Doctors?

While they may not hold medical degrees, chiropractors are considered to be legitimate doctors.

After completing a four-year undergraduate degree, four years of a chiropractic graduate program, and passing state or national board exams, chiropractors hold a doctorate of chiropractic degree and may be referred to as doctors of chiropractic medicine.

Furthermore, they may also use the abbreviation D.C. after their name, just as medical doctors use M.D. after theirs.

Over the course of these eight years, chiropractors study a number of different subjects, including:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Psychology
• Physics
• Anatomy
• Clinical Orthopedics
• Imaging Interpretation (such as X-rays and MRIs)
• Biochemistry
• Pediatrics
• Dermatology
• Ethics

Keep in mind that these courses are in addition to their study of chiropractic methods. By the time they are finished with their education, most chiropractors have received upwards of 4,000 hours of instruction in various chiropractic methods.

 

Is a Chiropractor a Physician?

Many people assume that the word “physician” is synonymous with “medical doctor.” In reality, a physician is defined as any person who is qualified to practice medicine. This term can refer to medical doctors, dentists, psychiatrists, and yes, chiropractors.

While licensed chiropractors can’t write prescriptions for antibiotics or perform heart surgery, they can diagnose and treat conditions within their realm of expertise, which qualifies them to be physicians.

In fact, as experts in the musculoskeletal system, chiropractors are often the best choice to treat these types of conditions, as they aim to treat the underlying cause of the discomfort rather than the symptoms. Specializing in one area of the body gives chiropractors a depth of knowledge that allows them to get to the root of symptoms and facilitate lasting relief.

In addition to adjustments, many chiropractors rely on massage therapy, e-stim therapy, and flexion distraction therapy to treat their patients.

 

Don’t Doctors Hate Chiropractors?

Unfortunately, some doctors see chiropractors in a bad light…but not for the reason you may think.

The medical community as a whole doesn’t believe chiropractors will “take business away from them.” There will always be a need for medical doctors because there are some things—like viruses—that no decent chiropractor can claim to treat.

Instead, doctors may distrust chiropractors because the patients they see are the ones who didn’t benefit from their adjustments. For every patient who chiropractors couldn’t completely heal, there are dozens of patients who swear by chiropractic treatment.

Fortunately, however, the tide is beginning to turn.

At Oviedo Chiropractic, we have excellent relationships with local physicians and refer patients to each other. From our perspective, chiropractic care should work in conjunction with your existing healthcare, not in place of it.

Even those who may not be able to take certain medications or participate in certain treatments can benefit from chiropractic adjustments with no side effects.

If you are looking for a medical doctor in Central Florida who will be supportive of your choice to see a chiropractor, we are happy to provide you with some local recommendations.

 

Do Chiropractors Really Help?

Yes!

Oviedo Chiropractic works with dozens of patients every day who can testify to the change they have experienced since beginning their journey with us.

And contrary to what you might have heard, chiropractic care involves a lot more than just “cracking your back.” Chiropractic adjustments are designed to restore proper alignment, motion, and flexibility to all of the joints in your body (not just the spine)!

Chiropractic care is holistic in nature, which means that it treats the body as a single, whole system. Once your joints are properly aligned, your muscles, nervous system, and other systems will benefit.

But you don’t have to take our word for it. Multiple studies have shown that chiropractic care is extremely effective at reducing pain symptoms and decreasing opioid dependency.

 

Will My Insurance Cover Chiropractic Care?

If chiropractors are doctors and if they are effective at treating pain, it would make sense that insurance companies would cover your adjustments.

The good news is that most health insurance carriers and certain Medicare plans do cover chiropractic care.

Before you schedule your appointment, see whether your policy covers chiropractic adjustments and if you need to see an in-network provider.

Oviedo Chiropractic is currently in-network with the following health plans:

• Aetna
• American Specialty Health Networks
• Cigna
• Florida Blue
• Bright Health
• Humana
• PHCS/PHCS Savility
• United Healthcare
• Medicare (Part B)
• Worker’s Compensation Insurance
• Auto Insurance

And if you don’t see your insurance carrier listed above, rest assured that we offer affordable self-pay options.

 

Get Relief With Chiropractic Care

If you’ve been hesitant to try chiropractic care because you didn’t have a solid answer to the question “Are chiropractors doctors?” allow us to set your mind at ease! Even though chiropractors don’t have a medical degree, they are still doctors with a wealth of knowledge in their particular area of study.

Whether you’ve been in a car accident, had a work injury, or are simply dealing with chronic pain, chiropractic adjustments may be the answer to improving your range of motion and overall wellbeing.

At Oviedo Chiropractic, we’ve built a reputation for educating our patients on the root cause of their symptoms and helping them live pain-free once again. Schedule your appointment so we can develop a treatment plan that is unique to you.