The training is 5 years of full time university study, leading to a masters degree. There are only about 5 chiropractic clinics in Querétaro so make sure that you see a chiropractor who is properly qualified.
- There are a number of people claiming to be chiropractors in Mexico so be careful they are not massage therapists or medics who have taken a few weeks course in manipulation. This is very different to the 5 years training specifically in chiropractic that our chiropractor, Dr. Marcus has undertaken. Dr Marcus has been registered as a chiropractor since 2005 in the UK and has to undergo a minimum of 30 hours on-going training a year. Chiropractic still does not have regulation in Mexico but in many countries in the world it is regulated. It is licensed in all 50 US states.
By understanding the history of chiropractic you will understand what makes chiropractic different to other professions and how incredibly hard the people have fought to keep the profession alive. Luckily in many countries chiropractic has recognition and is regulated, but other countries, such as Mexico, still do not have any regulation. Chiropractic has been regulated since 1995 in the UK. Did you know that in the past in the USA many chiropractors spent time in jail for practicing chiropractic? Nowadays there are 17 accredited chiropractic universities in the USA and 37 in the world! In Mexico City, they teach a 4 year chiropractic programme at the Universidad Estatal del Valle de Ecatepec.
Short answer, YES, Chiropractic is Safe!
Records form insurance and court cases have constantly shown that chiropractic is one of the safest types of health care available today. Although no healthcare procedures are 100% safe, chiropractic has a record of safety and effectiveness unmatched in healthcare. To learn more about the safety record of chiropractic please visit the website Chiropractic Is Safe at www.chiropracticissafe.org
A Chiropractic treatment mainly involves gentle, specific spinal adjustments to free joints usually in the spine or other, related areas that are not functioning properly.
When the problem is in the spine, this is called a ‘subluxation’. Most often, this requires a short thrust to a joint that can result in an audible ‘click’ and usually brings instant relief of symptoms; some patients report an increased feeling of well-being. The ‘pop’ is simply the sound of bubbles of gas popping in the fluid of the joint as the pressure is released. There are a variety of other chiropractic treatment methods that do not involve the ‘click’.
Chiropractors are often thought of as ‘bone doctors’ because they often use a contact on the vertebrae to perform their treatments. However, they are actually making an effect on the joint or muscle which in turn will affect the nervous system, which will allow the body to correct itself. It is much like turning a computer off and on again when it starts to slow up!
If the body is not functioning at 100% or optimum health and obvious symptoms are already present they can be relieved by chiropractic. This list would be very long, but some of the most common complaints that Dr. Marcus sees include:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Neck, jaw and arm pain
- Back and leg pain/sciatica/disc problems (even during pregnancy)
- Children with heel pain, knee pain, headaches and learning difficulties
- Less obvious symptoms include high blood pressure, asthma, heartburn, ear infections, bed-wetting and period pains
Often a chiropractor will detect the underlying source of the problem before symptoms are even present. ‘Did you know? Sitting on your wallet in your back pocket all day can misalign your pelvis and cause eventually back and even shoulder problems? Or that a car accident can lead to symptoms 20 years later?
Chiropractic is seen also as preventative care. The adjustment allows the nervous system to function properly, which in turn allows the body to work as intended (controlled by an ‘innate inteligence’, homeostasis, energy, or God, depending on your beliefs) and thus the body can heal itself. ‘When the controlling intelligence is able to transmit mental impulses to all parts of the body, free and unobstructed, we have normal action which is health.’ Quote by D.D.Palmer, founder of chiropractic in 1895.
The treatment involves very specific ‘adjustments’ of the spine and other joint and soft-tissue techniques. Since chiropractors look holistically at a person the treatment will also include advice on posture, ergonomics, exercises, health and lifestyle.
It focuses on diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the spine and extremities, and their effects on the nervous system and therefore general health. There is an emphasis on manual techniques, including joint adjustment with a particular focus on joint subluxation and restoring function.
Two Greek words, ‘cheir’ and ‘praktikos’, meaning, when combined, “done by hand.” Chiropractic is founded upon different principles than those of medicine. Chiropractic is a natural, drug-free and non-invasive health care profession.