Chiropractors: How much can they really heal?

Chiropractors are best known for treating back and neck pain. But can their hands-on manipulations of the spine also help with colic, asthma, ear infections, allergies and digestive issues?

Chiropractors are now established as mainstream health-care providers. Many health plans and Medicaid now cover their services, and they regularly care for clients ranging from the chronically ill to professional and Olympic athletes.

Chiropractors typically apply a sudden force to a region of the spine to help loosen a stiff joint, which they say allows the body's natural healing process to take over. During an initial visit, the chiropractor typically takes a health history and performs a physical exam, focusing on the spine. X-rays may be taken, and spinal "adjustments" may be applied with a patient lying face-down or sideways on a table.

Experts say there is evidence the treatments can lessen lower back pain, even if researchers have yet to figure out exactly why.

We have anecdotal evidence that people seem to get healthier -- when you manipulate the spine and affect the nervous system, dramatic things sometimes happen -- but that's the most we can say at this point.