When you receive a treatment plan for a physical condition, you want all of the information up front including the risks and benefits that are associated with your rehabilitation and recovery. Chiropractic treatment is no different than any other specialist. Before you engage in this form of medical care, it is paramount that you are fully educated. This will help you make the final decision as to which treatments will give you the best possible outcome.

Before discussing the benefits and risks, you must first be educated on the intended purpose of chiropractic care. The main focus of chiropractic treatments is 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” (American Chiropractic Association).

The chiropractor will do an initial evaluation. At that time, he/she will determine what treatments will be necessary. If they feel that this form of treatment will not be beneficial, they will refer the patient to another specialist. Qualified practitioners will work closely with the patient’s primary physician to ensure the best possible results.

There are several benefits from this type of care. Pain relief is the major benefit that patients experience. This relief is usually noticed within 12 to 48 hours; although, some patients have noticed a huge decrease in pain and/or stiffness in as little as a few hours (or immediately) after treatment. If there are other medical conditions present, chiropractic care can possibly aid in the patient’s recovery by helping to relieve any musculoskeletal pain that is directly associated with the patient’s condition.

Other benefits include (but not limited to):

Increase in circulation, removal of lactic acid, whole body oxygenation, digestive function, and flexibility.

Reduces pain and soreness, recovery time, painful menstruation, muscle spasms, and chances of injury.

Chiropractic care results in better nervous system functions, allows for an easier pregnancy and delivery, helps with asthma (especially in children), is a stress reliever, increases balance, and even has a positive effect on unborn babies (decreased In-utero constraint and lowers the chance of subsequent scoliosis), and aids in the preparation for an athlete’s next event or training session.

Every medical procedure or treatment comes with its own set of risks. Chiropractic care is no exception. When compared to traditional medical treatment, chiropractic care is extremely safe. Malpractice insurance premiums are two times higher for a medical doctor than for chiropractors. The scientific community has not been able to pinpoint any risks that are specifically isolated to the chiropractic treatments alone. For a more favorable outcome, the patient must divulge all medical history to avoid agitation or injury to current conditions.

The risks for broken bones or tearing of ligaments/tendons is usually the result of a serious underlying medical disorder or disease. With a healthy patient and under normal circumstances, this risk is slim to none if treatment is performed by a skilled and licensed professional. The patient may experience minimal localized soreness, especially if the patient has never had chiropractic care before, and usually goes away fairly quickly after their body adjusts to the treatment that was performed.

Patient safety and well-being should be at the top of a chiropractor’s list. An inexperienced chiropractor dramatically increases the risk for serious complications such as spinal injuries, torn ligaments, or broken bones. Hence why patients should only seek out licensed and skilled chiropractors that have had extensive experience in their field. This will result in optimal care and boost the odds of a safe and full recovery.

Do your own investigation on any chiropractor you are considering. Ask the important questions and, if you are not satisfied with the answers or feel uneasy about them and their practice, continue your search until you find one that is right for you and your condition. Never settle for less than the best when it comes to your health.

Part of almost everyone’s college journey includes some form of financial aid. Financial aid can include government grants, federal student loans, private student loans and scholarships. Typically you can apply for scholarships with whatever school you plan to attend, but if you need help covering the excess, there are other steps that can be taken. One of the first steps for students would be to fill out a FAFSA (free application for federal student aid). Filling out a FAFSA allows you to see how much additional financial aid you qualify for. This universal document will allow you to send your information out to several colleges of your choice electronically. It will notify colleges of what funds you are eligible for. You can only receive funds at one school per academic year.

There are two sources for student loans – the federal government and private lenders. In most instances the FAFSA is required for all federal financial aid including federal student loans.

For those students entering college straight from high school, the FAFSA will need information from your parents’ financial background to assign what percentage of your educational expenses they should be able to cover. In instances of low income, government grants can come into play for funding your education. Grants do not have to be paid back at all. What grants and parents aren’t able to cover can usually be paid for by student loans and scholarships. Loans should be the last resort when funding a college education since they have to be paid back once you either graduate, or stop attending school below a part time basis.

The Federal Stafford loan and the federal PLUS loan are the two basic loans available to students seeking an undergraduate education. The Federal Stafford loan is made in the name of the student, is based on need (only the subsidized portion), does not require a credit check (it’s guaranteed by a private guarantor and backed by the government rather than credit/income/assets, etc.) and does not have to be repaid until after the student graduates, leaves school or stops attending on at least a half-time basis. Federal PLUS loans are made in the name of a parent. While they do require a credit check, the credit criteria to obtain a PLUS loan are not as stringent as they are for other types of consumer loans. Repayment of a PLUS loan begins after the loan is fully disbursed.

Typically through the FAFSA site, you can pick a lender, sign a promissory note and find out when your funds will be available to your school. Any leftover money once your tuition is paid can be used to purchase books, pay room and board, or purchase school supplies. Many students choose to send back any remaining funds to cut down on the amount of money they will have to pay back in the future. Other students use the excess money for living expenses. One important tip on student loans is to only borrow what you need.