What a Doctor of Chiropractic is trained to do, and when we refer you elsewhere
A Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) is a licensed clinician trained to evaluate and care for problems with how joints, muscles and nerves work together — mostly the back, neck, hips and shoulders. A DC does not prescribe medication or perform surgery, and part of the job is knowing when you need someone who does. Here is what the training involves, what the research supports, and when a chiropractor is the wrong first stop.
The training
In the United States a DC completes undergraduate coursework followed by a four-year doctoral program that covers anatomy, physiology, diagnosis, imaging and supervised clinical care. Graduates sit national board examinations and are licensed by the state where they practice.
At FIT Clinic, care is provided by Dr. Michael Brandon, DC: Doctor of Chiropractic, University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic, 2017; B.S. in Nutrition, Mansfield University, 2011; NBCE Parts I–IV and Physiotherapy; licensed in New Jersey since 2017 (license 38MC00750100); at FIT Clinic in Colts Neck since August 2017.
What a chiropractor evaluates and treats
People with back pain, neck pain, sciatica, shoulder or hip pain, headaches that come from the neck, sports and activity-related injuries, and the stiffness that creeps in from desk work, driving, or age. Care starts with an evaluation, not a treatment, and it’s one option among several. It may include adjustment of joints that aren’t moving well, soft-tissue work, specific movements to do at home, and guidance on sitting, lifting and training load.
What the research says
Research on spinal manipulation is strongest for low-back pain and neck pain, where it’s associated with small-to-moderate improvements in pain and function, comparable to other recommended conservative treatments, and it’s one of the non-drug options that clinical guidelines list for these problems. Evidence for sciatica is more limited. For headaches, there is some support when the headache is coming from the neck. For conditions that aren’t musculoskeletal, there’s little high-quality evidence, which is why we don’t treat them as such.
When a chiropractor is the wrong first stop
Chiropractic care is not the right first stop for fractures, infections, unexplained weight loss, fever with back pain, new bowel or bladder problems, progressive weakness, chest pain, or the worst headache of your life. Those need a physician or an emergency department first. It also isn’t a treatment for conditions outside the musculoskeletal system, and we won’t pretend otherwise.
Working alongside your physician
Good care is coordinated care. For anything outside our scope, or if the evaluation suggests you need a different kind of care, we’ll tell you and point you to the right provider. Imaging is ordered here when the exam suggests it would change the plan, and performed off-site.
Is it safe?
For most people, yes. The common side effects are mild and short — soreness, stiffness, or fatigue for a day or two, similar to a hard workout. Serious complications are rare. Tell us about any history of stroke, blood-clotting disorders, osteoporosis, cancer, inflammatory arthritis, or spinal surgery, and about the medications you take; care is adapted to you, and neck adjustments in particular are always discussed before they’re done.
What to do next
Chiropractic care, explained goes deeper on what care involves and when we refer. Meet Dr. Brandon, or read what happens at a first visit.
Sources
- Chiropractic: In Depth, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
- Spinal Manipulation: What You Need To Know, NCCIH
- CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain, 2022 (non-drug options for pain)
Book with Dr. Brandon Call or Text 848-301-1515
Jim leads FIT Stretch and human-performance programs at Functionised; chiropractic care at FIT Clinic is provided by Dr. Michael Brandon, DC. Information on this site is educational and is not a substitute for an examination.
FIT Clinic · 8 Merchants Way, Colts Neck, NJ 07722 · 848-301-1515 · fitclinic.co