"Evidence Based" Chiropractic?

The "Evidence Based" question (as in, what does that mean?) comes up with some degree of frequency, so I thought I would address it here. Part of my standard spiel about the profession is that there are a wide variety of styles, philosophies, and practice models when it comes to chiropractic. Sometimes you get a doc that walks around you in a counter-clockwise circle with a crystal in his hand telling you that he can cure all that ails you, and some of us stick to strictly musculo-skeletal diagnosis and treatment. And in case you didn't pick up on it, my passion lies within the latter camp. The exception comes in the area of nutrition advice, which is good for much more than just preventing back pain, neck pain, and headaches.

So what does that look like in day to day practice? Very often it looks like what you're used to seeing in a chiropractor's office. Spinal manipulation (the adjustment) is very often used as a treatment for back pain for instance. The real difference is the explanation for how it all works along with the fact that manipulation isn't the only tool in the toolbox here. Exercise and rehab are the bigger focus--which is good for the patient because they can learn to be independent from any health care provider to maintain their freedom from pain.

We don't spend time trying to get you to sign up for lifetime care. We try to get you well and rehabilitated as quickly as possible so you'll tell your friends about us. We also want you to come back if anything else goes wrong up the road, which we think you'll do if we treat you right the first time!