Is Chiropractic Pseudoscience?

A chiropractor performs an adjustment on a patient's knee with the skeletal bones highlighted

There are conflicting feelings about chiropractic adjustments. Many people, whether they are healthcare professionals or patients, have differing opinions on how chiropractic care treats certain ailments and even whether or not it causes more harm than good.

Chiropractic is certainly a form of alternative medicine, and whether or not chiropractic is pseudoscience is a popular debate topic. But what exactly does that mean?

Read on as we discuss pseudoscience, chiropractic, and more.

What Is Pseudoscience?

Many people will slap the term pseudoscience on any medicinal or scientific belief they don’t agree with, especially a newer one. But what does pseudoscience mean?

The term pseudoscience is used to describe something that is reported to be a product of standard scientific research and methodology, but in reality, it isn’t. A common example would be astrology, the belief that the alignment of planets and stars has an effect on your behavior and mood.

Calling chiropractic care a medicinal pseudoscience means claiming that the treatment process is not based on research and that the supposed health benefits are not actually related to chiropractic adjustments. However, that is not true.

Chiropractic adjustments are physical manipulations that encourage your body to heal itself. The manual healing methods date back thousands of years. While some doctors may disagree on how beneficial chiropractic is, there is a wealth of evidence that chiropractic adjustments can ease pain, particularly back pain.

Chiropractic care is also well regulated, meaning the procedures and effects are documented and evaluated. Chiropractors are all specially trained medical professionals.

Chiropractic Is a Form of Holistic Healthcare

A woman receiving a chiropractic adjustment

As discussed, chiropractic is a form of alternative medicine or any type of care that is not considered standard or orthodox by the general medical profession. Other forms of alternative medicine are acupuncture and homeopathy.

Holistic care, meanwhile, is any type of medicinal treatment that focuses on healing your whole body mentally, emotionally, and physically to promote total wellness.

If you turn to over-the-counter pain medicine to treat back pains, you are focusing only on immediate physical healing. You’re not addressing the cause of the pain or preventing future pain.

When you visit a chiropractor to treat any ailment, immediate pain relief is one goal (and can sometimes be felt in a single session), but so is the prevention of future pain. Chiropractic adjustments realign your spine to its proper position so that your nervous system can reset, meaning your body is realigning both internally and externally.

This is crucial in treating chronic pain especially. Chiropractic treatment also includes suggested exercises and stretches to prevent future injuries and minimize pain and discomfort over time.

The goal of holistic medicine is not only to offer immediate relief for pain or discomfort but to analyze the origin of your ailment and ensure it does not return after treatment.

Chiropractor performing a shoulder adjustment

Common Ailments Treated by Chiropractic Adjustments

Back pain is the most prevalent ailment treated by chiropractic adjustments. After all, chiropractors focus on manipulating your body’s structure to promote healing, and your spine is a major part of your body’s structure.

However, chiropractors specialize in the entire musculoskeletal system and can treat many other common ailments with chiropractic adjustments.

Neck pain

Your neck is an extension of your spine, so naturally, neck pain can be treated by a chiropractor. This applies to whether your neck pain is chronic, caused by your lifestyle, or if you’re suffering from whiplash after a recent accident or injury.

Headaches

Tension headaches are caused by bad posture or constantly staring down at your phone. They, along with migraines, can be a significant interruption to your daily life. Spinal manipulations can help correct your posture and reduce stress, making these headaches less frequent and painful.

Shoulder pain

Chiropractic adjustments, specific stretching techniques, and massage therapy can all be used to treat chronic shoulder pain. Adjustments will alleviate the tension in the muscles around your shoulders and help your body naturally heal itself by practicing.

Joint Pain

Chiropractic care is excellent for joint pain, specifically in your knees and hips. Joint pain can be caused by age, arthritis, weight, and more, and when it comes to your knees and hips, poor posture can cause you to subconsciously put too much pressure on your joints. A spinal adjustment ensures that you have proper posture and are not putting any undue pressure on your joints.

How Oviedo Chiropractic Can Help You

No one should have to live with chronic pain. If you’ve tried medication or injections and the pain keeps coming back, it’s time to explore the other options available to you.

Chiropractic care is about treating your ailments from the inside out—finding the cause, eliminating the pain, and preventing future injuries. At Oviedo Chiropractic, we want to get you back on your feet in no time and give you the tools you need to stay healthy at home.

Dr. Justin Cough, D.C.

Dr. Cough graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Port Orange, FL after receiving his BS in Education from SUNY Oswego. Before becoming a chiropractor, he coached many middle and high school sports teams including football, lacrosse, basketball, and soccer. He is passionate about focusing on our bodies' natural healing mechanisms and helping his patients enjoy the utmost sustainability in their lives.