Back for good
Chiropractors offer back relief to aching students

By BETH BAUMGARDNER
Collegian Staff Writer

Tension across the neck and shoulders. Lower-back pain. Headaches.

All of these problems may be synonymous with the midterm exams many students are facing, and visiting a chiropractor might be the solution.

Cynthia Rowe (junior-civil engineering) has been seeing chiropractors for about six years for lower-back problems and she likes that chiropractors are able to stop her pain without medication.

"I think in America, people are realizing that drugs are not the answer for everything," Rowe said.

Chiropractors, who are not able to prescribe medications, try to solve patients' pain by restoring mobility and function to muscles, said Dr. Roy Love of Nittany Valley Chiropractors, 611 University Dr.

Students often visit Love complaining of stress-related problems, such as muscle tension across neck and shoulders, he said.

"For most patients, they in turn improve with treatment. I show them exercises and they are released (from treatment)," Love said, adding chiropractors also offer maintenance and preventive care on a long-term basis to patients if needed.

Dr. Edward Rosick, doctor of osteopathy at University Health Services, does not dissuade students from visiting chiropractors, but he said students should limit their chiropractic care to what has been proven effective -- that which treats lower-back pain.

Love said chiropractors' reputations are changing, thanks in part to the Pennsylvania Association of Chiropractors, of which Love is the immediate past president.

"(Chiropractic care) was always an alternative form of therapy and care, but now it's almost considered mainstream," he said, adding chiropractors can be primary-care physicians.

But Rosick disagrees. He said chiropractors still should be considered an alternative form of health care because only osteopathic and medical physicians are licensed to prescribe medication or do surgery in the United States.

Chiropractors and physicians should be able to work with each other, he said, although he does not refer students to chiropractors.

"I feel any type of care (students) could receive at a chiropractor they could receive in the physical therapy unit," Rosick said.

Love said he works with many local physicians when caring for patients. He evaluates whether he can help the patients with the tools he has, and if he cannot, he will recommend the patient to a doctor who can help.

"The difference between (now and) 13 years ago is that there is a healthier working relationship between chiropractors and physicians," Love said.

Although Rowe said chiropractors have helped her a lot, she understands their limitations.

"Some people believe chiropractors are the answer for everything. I don't," Rowe said. "But when my back is out of alignment, I'll go."