About Chiropractic What is it? Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health.  Chiropractic care is used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches. Why chiropractic? The nervous system controls all of the body’s functions, and depends on the vertebrae in your spine to protect it. When your vertebrae are out of line, they can prohibit optimal operation of the nervous system, which can lead to various physical problems. Is it safe? Chiropractic treatments are incredibly safe—actually, they’re one of the safest kinds of medical care available. And your chiropractor has studied extensively to fully understand the body’s systems. The chiropractic-training program is comparable to the program of study for medical doctors. According to the American Chiropractic Association, more than 30 million people visited doctors of chiropractic last year for a variety of conditions, and more and more medical doctors are referring their patients to doctors of chiropractic. What problems can it address? In addition to preventative and wellness care, chiropractic can be used to treat allergies, headaches, lower back pain, fibromyalgia, neck and shoulder pain, numbness, leg pain, scoliosis, and other health issues. For more information, see the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research.