I am a chiropractor who is a Christian. Many people have preconceived ideas
about chiropractors, and some of these ideas and stereotypes have merit. There are many
chiropractors who are quite frankly, "quacks and weirdos" who use pseudoscience
and vitalistic/new age world views to explain how their treatment is working. The
reality is that many well-meaning chiropractors mistakenly believe that just
because their treatment is effective, that it validates the mechanism of how
their treatment works. It is very easy to find what I am speaking of if
you were to look on the internet about chiropractic, it's roots, history, etc.
What you will be reading in this article is likely very different from what you
may expect.
I consider myself more
complementary medicine than alternative medicine, as I believe that medicine
has it's place. I'm not opposed to traditional medicine, although I
believe that a drugless/non-surgical approach is preferred when it is possible (which is why most people seek out chiropractors). I will typically
consult with a
patient and determine whether or not I think I can help, and if I think I
cannot, I will inform them about what other options they have, whether they
be medical or surgical. I think it would be unethical to do anything else.
Chiropractic, in the way I practice it, is effective for
what traditional medicine isn't. I am alternative only in terms of
philosophy and approach to
disease and symptom relief in SOME circumstances. Chiropractors in general typically
approach the cause of disease (symptoms, injuries, etc.) differently, as
opposed to traditional medicine, which usually approaches symptoms with this
philosophy: "You have symptoms, x, y, and z, that is treated with
medication a, b, and c". Chiropractors typically approach disease and
symptoms with: "You have symptom, x, y, and z, let's figure out why you have
that, remove those causes and the symptoms will go away." Chiropractors
are sometimes misguided in their thinking of what the "cause" is with old-school,
default thinking of "nerve flow" reduction, restriction, and
subluxations
causing disease. That is not to say that their treatment won't work.
It usually will, however, it is not because of the removal of "nerve
interference", but biomechanical stress and strain on those particular parts of
the body, which may now be able to "do what they were designed to do" with less
interference any kind, biomechanical, structural, vitalistic, etc. This is
not entirely inconsistent with traditional chiropractic theory, but just another
way of looking at it.
My definition of chiropractic's vitalistic mechanism is
consistent with common sense, and has nothing to do with new age or alternative
thinking, unless you may be an atheist and consider the idea of a Creator to be
ridiculous (1 Cor 2:13-15).
God designed our bodies with the ability to heal itself, if the body cannot do
what it is designed to do, sometimes it needs some help, whether it be physical
medicine (chiropractic, physical therapy, personal training), medication, etc. As a chiropractor, I am merely a facilitator in
that process. The only thing vitalistic about that is that I believe God
designed our bodies and that design includes the God-given mechanism to heal
itself
Psalm 139:14-16. Vitalism, in the definition I have used it here, simply means that
we didn't come from a cosmic soup and a spark. Life as we know it did not
just happen, it is supernatural, and God intentionally created life with a
purpose and our bodies with the ability to adapt to change, heal and recover
from injury. This definition is typically different from other vitalistic
or new age thinking, particularly in how God is defined; however I refer to God,
as the God of the Bible and not merely a "life force". Traditional
chiropractic theory can be interpreted to say that "life force" or "god" is
being restricted by
subluxation, and therefore the cause of disease, which is
not what I'm suggesting at all, nor do I believe that, or condone that way of
thinking, as I believe it is opposed to my Biblical worldview.
Anyone who has ever been adjusted knows the potential for instant relief that
comes when you get adjusted. That is why I became a chiropractor myself.
It wasn't until I became involved in the world of chiropractic that I realized
that there were many methods, world views, theories, techniques and levels of
skill amongst chiropractors. I cannot stress highly enough that NOT ALL
CHIROPRACTORS ARE THE SAME!
The mechanism of how chiropractic is effective is important, as I believe
that
all truth is God's truth. The truth is that chiropractic care, when
utilized properly is effective, but many people believe that they must "buy in"
to chiropractic philosophy, nerve flow causing disease, subluxation (which my
definition of it is more structural and biomechanical), to go to a chiropractor.
It is not necessary to accept that mechanism for it to be effective.
Treatment will likely work regardless of what you believe. I have had patients
who have been to other chiropractors and "tolerate" the "education",
"propaganda" and
"indoctrination" by their chiropractor because the treatment works and helps
them, regardless if they believe what their chiropractor is telling them about
HOW it works. Again, I believe many if not most chiropractors are
incorrect regarding the mechanism, which is purely common sense, helping the
body get to do what it is designed to do by facilitating it's normal movement,
range of motion and removal of the physical stress and strain being placed upon
it so it is more able to deal with the physical stresses and biomechanics being
placed on our bodies.
I believe that most chiropractors are mistaken about the mechanism of how chiropractic works (especially old school chiropractors), but their methods
of treatment are
usually similar, with some techniques working better for some patients than
others. But, if one uses a faulty premise, one may end up with an outcome
that is favorable, but not necessarily correct in how you got from "point A to
point B". That is not to say that a chiropractor who believes in nerve
flow, subluxations causing disease, etc. would not help you. Going to most
chiropractors would likely help a patient achieve what they are trying to do,
depending on the problem that one is trying to correct.
As a Christian, however, one must be careful not to accept a purely vitalistic/new
age world view just because they get better, which is likely. Many chiropractors
don't fully have a grasp of what they are trying to do and many feel that they
MUST cling to old school thinking about how chiropractic works because they
didn't realize that there could be a different explanation for the effectiveness
of it. Many people discount and eliminate chiropractic care because of
chiropractic's adamant stance on nerve interference being the cause of disease.
There are may types of chiropractors and your experience with chiropractors
would likely be reflected by the chiropractor you choose. I'll be writing
more about what type of chiropractor would likely be suitable for your needs,
especially if you are unable to come to my office in La Mirada.
I will continue to edit this, as I am trying differentiate types of
chiropractors, in my attempt to explain why not all chiropractors are the same.
This page is a work in progress. Last update 07/11/10. For a
FREE CONSULTATION, CLICK HERE.
View (Dr. T.'s) profile
