Back pain, sooner or later, is said to affect three out of every four Americans. Chiropractic is best known for its treatment of back problems. Perhaps the high rate of back pain is a major reason why there are more than 50,000 licensed chiropractors in the United States. They are the third largest group of health practitioners. Chiropractors have treated headache, sports injuries, muscle pain and tension, and carpal tunnel syndrome with some success.
Many chiropractors claim to be able to treat other health problems.
They say this is a valid claim because, they believe, the spine plays a vital role in nearly all health problems. On this basis, some chiropractors treat heart disease, epilepsy, impotence, and allergies, among other problems. Because not all critical nerve systems can be manipulated, it is not likely that these broader claims are valid. Further, conventional medical doctors and scientists do not accept the idea that all diseases have a direct relationship to how the bones of the spine line up. Therefore, they do not believe that illnesses can be treated successfully with spinal manipulation.