Chiropractic Medicine & Chiropractors Forest Hills NY
Olympus Chiropractic P.C.
Dr. David C. Kesselman Chiropractor
70-50 Austin St. Forest Hills NY 11375
718-374-1113
Dr. Michael J. Jett Chiropractor
Austin St. Forest Hills NY 11375
Dr Gary Goldberg Chiropractor
Forest Hills, NY, 11375
80s
Dr Gayle A Whittaker Chiropractor
Austin St Forest Hills, NY, 11375
15
Dr Michael Genco Chiropractor
718-268-4464
Forest Hills, NY 11375
0/100
&
Dr Fred L Feldstein Chiropractor
,Forest Hills, NY, 11375
0/100
Dr DelosReyes Chiropractor
Austin St Forest Hills, NY 11375
0/100
Chiropractic is a health care approach that focuses on the relationship
between the body's structurep;mainly the spinep;and its functioning.
Although practitioners may use a variety of treatment approaches, they primarily
perform adjustments to the spine or other parts of the body with the goal
of correcting alignment problems and supporting the body's natural ability
to heal itself.
Key Points
* People seek chiropractic care primarily for pain conditions such as back
pain, neck pain, and headache.
* Side effects and risks depend on the type of chiropractic treatment used.
* Chiropractic practitioners in the United States are required to earn a
Doctor of Chiropractic degree from properly accredited colleges.
* Ongoing research is looking at effects of chiropractic treatment approaches,
how they might work, and diseases and conditions for which they may be most
helpful.
* Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative
practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your
health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.
Overview and History
The term "chiropractic" combines the Greek words cheir
(hand) and praxis (action) to describe a treatment done by hand.
Hands-on therapyp;especially adjustment of the spinep;is central
to chiropractic care. Chiropractic, which in the United States is considered
part of complementary and alternative medicineA group of diverse medical
and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently
considered to be part of conventional medicine. Complementary medicine is
used together with conventional medicine, and alternative medicine is used
in place of conventional medicine. (CAM), is based on these key concepts:
* The body has a powerful self-healing ability.
* The body's structure (primarily that of the spine) and its function are
closely related, and this relationship affects health.
* Therapy aims to normalize this relationship between structure and function
and assist the body as it heals.
While some procedures associated with chiropractic care can be traced back
to ancient times, the modern profession of chiropractic was founded by Daniel
David Palmer in 1895 in Davenport, Iowa. Palmer, a self-taught healer, believed
that the body has a natural healing ability. Misalignments of the spine
can interfere with the flow of energy needed to support health, Palmer theorized,
and the key to health is to normalize the function of the nervous system,
especially the spinal cord.
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Patterns of Use
A 2002 national survey on CAMA group of diverse medical and health care
systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be
part of conventional medicine. Complementary medicine is used together with
conventional medicine, and alternative medicine is used in place of conventional
medicine. use found that about 20 percent of American adults had received
chiropractic care at some point during their lives. Chiropractic was one
of the 10 most commonly used CAM therapies. Those surveyed reported using
chiropractic treatment for the following reasons:
* Combining chiropractic services with conventional medical treatments would
helpp;53 percent
* Conventional medicine would not helpp;40 percent
* Chiropractic would be interesting to tryp;32 percent
* Conventional medical professional suggested itp;20 percent
* Conventional medical treatments were too expensivep;10 percent.
Many people who seek chiropractic care have chronic, pain-related health
conditions. Low-back pain, neck pain, and headache are common conditions
for which people seek chiropractic treatment.
What To Expect From Chiropractic Visits
During the initial visit, chiropractors typically take a health history
and perform a physical examination, with a special emphasis on the spine.
Other examinations or tests such as x-rays may also be performed. If chiropractic
treatment is considered appropriate, a treatment plan will be developed.
During followup visits, practitioners may perform one or more of the many
different types of adjustments used in chiropractic care. Given mainly to
the spine, a chiropractic adjustment (sometimes referred to as a manipulation)
involves using the hands or a device to apply a controlled, sudden force
to a joint, moving it beyond its passive range of motion. The goal is to
increase the range and quality of motion in the area being treated and to
aid in restoring health. Other hands-on therapies such as mobilization (movement
of a joint within its usual range of motion) also may be used.
Chiropractors may combine the use of spinal adjustments with several other
treatments and approaches such as:
* Heat and ice
* Electrical stimulation
* Rest
* Rehabilitative exercise
* Counseling about diet, weight loss, and other lifestyle factors
* Dietary supplements.
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Side Effects and Risks
Side effects and risks depend on the specific type of chiropractic treatment
used. For example, side effects from chiropractic adjustments can include
temporary headaches, tiredness, or discomfort in parts of the body that
were treated. The likelihood of serious complications, such as stroke, appears
to be extremely low and related to the type of adjustment performed and
the part of the body treated.
If dietary supplements are a part of the chiropractic treatment plan, they
may interact with medicines and cause side effects. It is important that
people inform their chiropractors of all medicines (whether prescription
or over-the-counter) and supplements they are taking.
Qualifications To Practice
To practice chiropractic care in the United States, a practitioner must
earn a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree from a college accredited by
the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE). CCE is the agency certified
by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit chiropractic colleges in
the United States. Admission to a chiropractic college requires a minimum
of 90 semester hour credits (approximately 3 years) of undergraduate study,
mostly in the sciences.
Chiropractic training is a 4-year academic program that includes both classroom
work and direct experience caring for patients. Coursework typically includes
instruction in the biomedical sciences, as well as in public health and
research methods. Some chiropractors pursue a 2- to 3-year residency for
training in specialized fields.
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Regulation
Chiropractic is regulated individually by each state and the District of
Columbia. Board examinations are required for licensing and include a mock
patient encounter. Most states require chiropractors to earn annual continuing
education credits to maintain their licenses. Chiropractors' scope of practice
varies by state in areas such as laboratory tests or diagnostic procedures,
the dispensing or selling of dietary supplements, and the use of other CAM
therapies such as acupunctureA family of procedures that originated in traditional
Chinese medicine. Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific points on the
body by a variety of techniques, including the insertion of thin metal needles
though the skin. It is intended to remove blockages in the flow of qi and
restore and maintain health. or homeopathyA whole medical system that originated
in Europe. Homeopathy seeks to stimulate the body's ability to heal itself
by giving very small doses of highly diluted substances that in larger doses
would produce illness or symptoms (an approach called "like cures like")..
Insurance Coverage
Compared with other CAM therapies, insurance coverage for chiropractic services
is extensive. Many HMOs (health maintenance organizations) and private health
care plans cover chiropractic treatment, as do all state workers' compensation
systems. Chiropractors can bill Medicare, and many states cover chiropractic
treatment under Medicaid. If you have health insurance, check whether chiropractic
services are covered before you seek treatment.
Other Points To Consider
* Research to expand the scientific understanding of chiropractic treatment
is ongoing.
* If you decide to seek chiropractic care, talk to your chiropractor about:
* His education, training, and licensing
* Whether he has experience treating the health conditions for which you
are seeking care
* Any special medical concerns you have and any medicines or dietary supplements
you are taking.
* Tell all of your health care providers about any complementary and alternative
practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your
health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.
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NCCAM-Funded Research
Recent research projects on chiropractic care supported by the National
Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) have focused on
the:
* Effectiveness of chiropractic treatments for back pain, neck pain, and
headache, as well as for other health conditions such as temporomandibular
disorders
* Development of a curriculum to increase the number of chiropractors involved
in research
* Influence of people's satisfaction with chiropractic care on their response
to treatment.
References
1. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. Chiropractic in the United
States: Training, Practice, and Research. Rockville, MD: Agency for
Health Care Policy and Research; 1997. AHCPR publication no. 98-N002.
2. Meeker WC, Haldeman S. Chiropractic: a profession at the crossroads of
mainstream and alternative medicine. Annals of Internal Medicine.
2002;136(3):216-227.
3. Barnes PM, Powell-Griner E, McFann K, Nahin RL. Complementary and alternative
medicine use among adults: United States, 2002. CDC Advance Data Report
#343. 2004.
4. Coulter ID, Hurwitz EL, Adams AH, et al. Patients using chiropractors
in North America: who are they, and why are they in chiropractic care? Spine.
2002;27(3):291-296.
5. The Council on Chiropractic Education. Standards for Doctor of Chiropractic
Programs and Requirements for Institutional Status January 2007. The
Council on Chiropractic Education Web site. June 28, 2007.
6. Dagenais S, Haldeman S. Chiropractic. Primary Care. 2002;29(2):419-437.
7. Eisenberg DM, Cohen MH, Hrbek A, et al. Credentialing complementary and
alternative medical providers. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2002;137(12):965-973.
8. Ernst, E, Pittler, MH, Wider, B, eds. The Desktop Guide to Complementary
and Alternative Medicine: An Evidence-Based Approach. 2nd ed. St. Louis,
MO: Mosby Elsevier; 2006.
9. Kaptchuk TJ, Eisenberg DM. Chiropractic: origins, controversies, and
contributions. Archives of Internal Medicine. 1998;158(20):2215-2224.
10. Senstad O, Leboeuf-Yde C, Borchgrevink C. Frequency and characteristics
of side effects of spinal manipulative therapy. Spine. 1997;22(4):435-440.