Shotgun or Sniper Rifle: Choosing an Approach to Healthcare

As the title suggests, this article wasn’t written to discuss the ins and outs of different types of firearms. Instead, we are here to talk about the difference between a general approach and a precision approach to taking care of your health.

There are typically two general approaches that people tend to take when it comes to addressing their health concerns. We’re going to use the gun analogy today to explore those options.

The first is the “shotgun approach”. Shotguns are designed to hit broad targets from close range. They are fired quickly and without great concern for aim. When a shotgun is fired, pellets are ejected and spread over a wide area so that the chance of hitting the desired target is increased. However, in terms of efficiency, the spray action of the ammunition will inevitably hit parts of the target that you weren’t aiming for, leaving lots of extra holes and unintended damage.

The second is the “sniper’s approach”. A sniper can spend hours aligning and setting up their sights properly so that when they pull the trigger, not only do they hit the target, they hit it in the precise location they were aiming at. The process might take a bit longer, but there is a level of efficiency that ensures that the bullet hits nothing else besides the intended target.

Now, neither approach is wrong. They each serve different purposes. It would be appropriate for a person to choose a shotgun for self defense or game hunting when all they care about is making sure the desired target is hit, and the shotgun is great at that particular job. A sniper’s approach is warranted when a situation requires more sensitivity or finesse, when a miss can result in unwanted damage or compromise the ultimate goal.

You must be thinking, how does this apply to my health? There are many ways!
• A person may have an infection that requires the use of antibiotics. There are broad-spectrum antibiotics that kill off all bacteria (shotgun approach), and there are antibiotics designed to target specific types of bacteria (sniper approach).
• Seeing a General Practitioner for testing or an examination (shotgun) vs. seeking out the expertise of a Specialist for a specific part of the body (sniper).
• Exercising for weight loss or overall fitness (shotgun) vs. training for a specific event or fitness goal such as completing a triathlon (sniper).

Notice that none of these approaches are wrong – they all have their appropriate time and place. It comes down to addressing what your perceived need is.

I get many questions about spinal manipulation, adjustments, or corrections, and whether it makes a difference if an Osteopath, Physical Therapist, or Chiropractor does them. DO’s, PT’s, and most Chiropractors focus on manipulations which do a great job at increasing range of motion, reducing the degree of muscle spasm, and temporarily relieving pain. They do a great job at meeting these goals, and typically, it’s a shotgun approach to addressing the spine and nervous system.

At Precision Chiropractic, we take a sniper’s approach. Our NeuroStructural exam is extremely detailed, and we always measure our work to ensure we are coming as close to hitting the bull’s-eye as possible with each adjustment we give. We focus on one Primary Condition, an underlying shift of the spine, which may be creating a host of Secondary Conditions. Our approach may not be for everyone, but for those who feel they have already taken the shotgun approach without much success, or those who may prefer a sniper’s approach from the onset, then NeuroStructural chiropractic care may be for you!