YES. Chiropractic care is included in most health insurance plans, including major medical plans, workers' compensation, auto accidents, and Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, among others. Chiropractic care is also available to active-duty members of the armed forces at more than 60 military bases and is available to veterans at more than 60 major veterans' medical facilities.

Not necessarily. A referral is usually not needed to see a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC). However, your health plan may have specific referral requirements. It is recommended to contact your employer's human resources department (or your health insurance directly) to find out if a referral is a requirement. Most plans allow you to just call and schedule an appointment with a chiropractor.

Doctors of Chiropractic (DC) care for patients of all ages, with a variety of health conditions. They are especially well known for their expertise in caring for patients with back pain, neck pain, and headaches using their highly skilled manipulations or chiropractic adjustments. DCs also care for patients with a wide range of injuries and disorders of the musculoskeletal system, which includes the muscles, ligaments, and joints. These painful conditions may involve or impact the nervous system, which can cause referred pain and dysfunction distant to the region on injury. In addition, chiropractors offer advice to patients on diet, nutrition, exercise, healthy habits, and occupational and lifestyle modification.

IN SHORT YES. Chiropractic care for pain can be a non-invasive treatment option for any of the above injuries. There have been numerous studies that indicate that chiropractic care is a great way to approach many different pain conditions. Neck pain and back pain are the two pain conditions best served by chiropractic care, especially when combined with other treatments. One study found rapid improvement of neck pain over physical therapy, medications, and surgery alone. This study is notable for its size and the scientific validity of its approach. Another study looked at successful treatments over a year and found that chiropractic care worked better than physiotherapy and general practitioner care. For lower back pain, the most common pain condition addressed with chiropractic care, there are many different studies that indicate that it works. One study that focused on military veterans found that chiropractic care decreased pain and improved function better that traditional treatments of lower back pain alone. Another study found that those patients who used chiropractic care for pain had a 90% reduction in pain over four weeks, much higher than traditional medical care (56%).

This is an isometric technique that involves the patient in a more active role. The patient is asked to resist or apply force in the opposite direction of the chiropractor, holding it for a few seconds, and then releasing. This is repeated through the entire range of motion of a joint until the joint is no longer restricted.

Chiropractic care is safe, effective, and generally free of side effects. In fact, recent studies have shown that patients with back pain have a higher chance of more serious side effects (including gastrointestinal bleeding) when taking over-the-counter (OTC) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen. As Mayo Clinic notes: “Chiropractic adjustment is safe when it’s performed by someone trained and licensed to deliver chiropractic care.” It’s important to find a chiropractor who is appropriately trained and comes with great credentials. It is generally recommended that patients with an increased risk of stroke or severe osteoporosis avoid chiropractic care.