Is Chiropractic a Pseudoscience?

I listened to a podcast recently (The Anatomy of Therapy), where they discussed if chiropractic was a pseudoscience or if there was validity to it? This is a common question that gets brought up often in the medical community.

First, let’s talk about the schooling & type of degree that is achieved when you become a chiropractor. You graduate with a Doctorate of Chiropractic (DC) after completing 3.5 years of graduate school after you completed an undergraduate degree of choice. During the time of grad school, chiropractors initially focus on the basic sciences (Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Pathology, etc. )As you move through the program, you take specialized courses such as men & women’s health, rehabilitation/exercise, radiology, dermatology, neurobiology, pharmacology, etc. Chiropractors are trained to understand the Musculoskeletal (MSK) System of the body.

It is important to understand that why you go to a chiropractor, they are focused on the joints & muscles. However, chiropractors look at the whole body, which is why you may find yourself discussing topics like nutrition, hydration, stress levels, and exercises. During and after grad school, many chiropractors find themselves specializing in topics of interest such as sports, functional medicine, gait, etc.

Chiropractic care has evolved over the years based on the evidence available from research articles. We have found strong evidence that it is beneficial for low back pain, however other conditions may not have enough evidence currently. Does that mean that we completely avoid it for all conditions other than low back pain? No, but we need to also take precautions to protect the patient with each intervention that is used. There is a decent amount of research out about chiropractic care, and when a good time to be seen is. We have found that acute pain (typically 1-3 months) responds well to chiropractic care. Chronic pain ( >6 months), is something that takes more time & may require an interdisciplinary approach. It requires more attention, behavior modification, and management of symptoms as they evolve & change.

Chiropractic care can be a beneficial part of the medical community. I am a firm believer that “laying hands” on someone in a therapeutic way, can provide comfort & make the patient feel seen. By listening, and paying attention to the patient, it can provide relief & comfort that other clinicans may not be able to provide. It is important to find the appropriate treatment approach for what you are looking to get out of your care. It depends on what your goals are, what you value in a clinican, and how you want to be treated.

I’m not saying chiropractic care is perfect, far from it! However, just with anything else, we are a growing discipline that is learning how to help patients live longer, healthier, a pain-free life. If you question if chiropractic care can be beneficial for you, it is always worth a shot. It is important to communicate with your clinician as to what you value, your goals, and how you want to be treated or not treated.