What is Reform Chiropractic Care?

To ‘reform’ something basically means to change it by improving it, making it better. Such is the idea behind reform chiropractic—chiropractors, under this school of thought, aim to take what they believe is right about traditional chiropractic care and improve it.

That is, of course, an oversimplification. However, it is essentially correct. Reform chiropractors openly reject some of the theories of traditional chiropractic care and are trying to implement their own—purportedly superior—concepts. So far, reform chiropractic care is the smallest of all types of chiropractic; however, it has been gaining ground over the last several years.

Reform Chiropractors

The idea of ‘reform’ in medicine sounds somewhat new age-ish and alternative; however, reform chiropractors are actually the most biomedical of all chiropractors. These chiropractors believe that mainstream medical theories of diagnosis, function, and treatment of the skeleton are correct. Reform chiropractors limit their practice to the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders only. They work closely with medical and osteopathic physicians.

How Do they ‘Reform’ Chiropractic Care?

Other chiropractors—both straight chiropractors and mixing chiropractors—believe that subluxations (displaced vertebrae) are the primary risk factor for many diseases and/or the cause of many diseases. Reform chiropractors reject this notion. They simply disagree; they do not believe that spinal joint dysfunction is in any way the cause of organic disease. They don’t believe that the condition of the spine relates to the general well-being of a patient or that it is a factor in illness.

Instead, reform chiropractors recommended chiropractic care only for musculoskeletal disorders, such as osteoarthritis and joint pain.

Reform Chiropractors are Similar to Mixing Chiropractors

Although they subscribe to differing schools of thought, in some ways reform chiropractors do resemble mixing chiropractors. Both types of chiropractors use any type of diagnostic tool they have at their disposal in order to come to a determination about a patient’s diagnosis. Reports and tests from other doctors are often used, for example. X-rays and ultrasounds are commonly used as well. Reform chiropractors, just like mixing chiropractors, will use any information they can in order to come to a correct diagnosis for a patient.

In addition, both of these types of chiropractors work closely with other medical doctors. However, the types of treatment options used may be different. While mixing chiropractors may use alternative forms of treatment, this is not advocated by reform chiropractors. Reform chiropractic doctors will instead use treatments through traditional, mainstream medical practices.