| Chiropractic is a form of health care that focuses on | | | | examination, with special emphasis on the spine, and |
| the relationship between the structure of the spine | | | | possibly other diagnostic examinations such as Xrays. |
| and the body's function. Also called chiropractors or | | | | A treatment plan is then developed. |
| chiropractic physicians, they use a type of hands-on | | | | Treatment of the patient typically includes |
| therapy consisting of manipulation of the bones and | | | | manipulation treatment. This is a manual therapy. |
| joints as their core clinical procedure. This career field | | | | Given mainly to the spine, chiropractic adjustments |
| manages to do quite well without calling a great deal | | | | involve applying a controlled force to a joint. These |
| of attention to itself, and if you are good with your | | | | are done to increase the range and quality of motion |
| hands and want to get into medical practice but want | | | | in the area being treated. Other health care |
| to specialize in a field and not take so much time in | | | | professionals such as physical therapists, sports |
| school, perhaps the chiropractic career is right for | | | | medicine doctors, orthopedists, physical medicine |
| you. | | | | specialists, doctors of osteopathic medicine, and |
| How'd it start? | | | | massage therapists perform various types of |
| The word "chiropractic" combines the Greek words | | | | manipulation. However, chiropractors perform over 90 |
| cheir (hand) and praxis (action) and means "doing it | | | | percent of manipulative treatments within the field. |
| by hand." Chiropractic is considered an alternative | | | | Chiropractors may use other treatments in addition |
| medical system and takes a different approach from | | | | to adjustment, such as mobilization, massage, and |
| conventional medicine in diagnosing, classifying, and | | | | non-manual treatments. These last may be any of |
| treating medical problems. | | | | heat and ice, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, |
| Chiropractic has a long and distinguished lineage. | | | | rehabilitative exercise dietary supplements, or even |
| Chiropractic was first described by Hippocrates in | | | | acupuncture. A chiropractor may also provide |
| ancient Greece. Chiropractic came to us in it's | | | | counseling about diet, weight loss, and other lifestyle |
| present-day form via Daniel David Palmer, who in | | | | factors. |
| 1895 founded the modern profession of chiropractic | | | | Is chiropractic regarded as "real" medicine? |
| in Davenport, Iowa. Palmer was a student of healing | | | | It most definitely is for back and neck pain and |
| philosophies of the day. It was his observation that | | | | treatment of migraine headaches. Clinical studies have |
| the body has a natural healing ability that is controlled | | | | reinforced that the treatment works. But chiropractic |
| by the nervous system, that misalignments of the | | | | is still seen as an "alternative" medical practice, and |
| spine interfere with the body's natural operation | | | | some other medical fields regard the practice with |
| which itself was a concept borrowed from | | | | some skepticism. Frequently this skepticism comes |
| osteopathic traditions, and that one could develop a | | | | from the tendency for some practitioners to branch |
| procedure to adjust the bones of the spinal column | | | | off into homeopathy, aromatherapy, magnetic |
| with the goal of correcting it's setting. | | | | therapy, and other fringe theory venues. |
| What kind of training do I need? | | | | Because chiropractic practice is still fighting for |
| Most chiropractic training is a four year academic | | | | acceptance, it is suggested that the chiropractor |
| course consisting of both classroom and clinical | | | | stick to the practice as "by the book" and only |
| instruction. At least three years of preparatory | | | | practice proven effective techniques. Leave the New |
| college work are required for admission to most | | | | Age stuff to the psychics. |
| chiropractic schools. Students who graduate receive | | | | Are there studies showing the effectiveness of |
| the degree of Doctor of Chiropractic and are eligible | | | | chiropractic? |
| to take state license board examinations in order to | | | | In 1998, a study of 10,652 Florida workers' |
| practice. Some schools also offer postgraduate | | | | compensation cases was conducted. It was |
| courses, including residency programs in specialized | | | | concluded that a claimant with a back-related injury, |
| fields lasting two to three years. | | | | when initially treated by a chiropractor versus a |
| Chiropractic practice is regulated individually on a | | | | medical doctor, is less likely to become temporarily |
| state-by-state basis. Most states require | | | | disabled. If already disabled, the patient tends to |
| chiropractors to earn continuing education credits in | | | | remain disabled for a shorter period of time. |
| order to maintain their licenses. Chiropractors' scope | | | | Claimants treated by medical doctors were |
| of practice varies by state. It can include performing | | | | hospitalized at a much higher rate than claimants |
| laboratory tests or diagnostic procedures, the | | | | treated by chiropractors! |
| dispensing or selling of dietary supplements, and even | | | | Going further back, a 1991 study of Oregon Workers' |
| the use of acupuncture or homeopathy. Chiropractors | | | | Compensation Claims examined randomly selected |
| are not licensed in any state to perform major | | | | workers' compensation cases that involved disabling |
| surgery or prescribe drugs. | | | | low-back injuries. It found that when individuals with |
| Who is the typical patient? | | | | similar injuries were compared, those who visited |
| About 200 million Americans visit chiropractors per | | | | chiropractors generally missed fewer days of work |
| year. Nearly half of those visits are to treat back or | | | | than those who visited other kinds of doctors. |
| neck pain. Of these, some are chronic sufferers and | | | | In 1989, a survey in the state of Washington |
| some are the result of accidents. Conditions | | | | concluded that patients receiving care from health |
| commonly treated by chiropractors include back pain, | | | | maintenance organizations were three times as likely |
| neck pain, headaches, sports injuries, and repetitive | | | | to report satisfaction with care from chiropractors as |
| strain injuries. Patients also seek treatment of pain | | | | they were with care from other physicians. The |
| associated with other conditions, such as arthritis. | | | | patients were also more likely to believe that their |
| Low-back pain is a common medical problem, | | | | chiropractor was concerned about them. This goes to |
| occurring in up to one-fourth of the population each | | | | show that the "hands-on" approach of chiropractic |
| year. Most people experience significant back pain at | | | | has at least some benefit. |
| least once during their lifetime. Often, the cause of | | | | Chiropractic study frequently focuses on treating the |
| back pain is unknown, and it varies greatly in terms | | | | "whole patient" and getting to the root cause of a |
| of how people experience it and how professionals | | | | problem instead of merely treating the symptoms. |
| diagnose it. This makes back pain challenging to | | | | This makes perfect sense to some minds and is only |
| study, given that the spine is such a complex system | | | | dimly grasped by others. Perhaps it takes a special |
| of bone, cartilage, and nerve tissue. | | | | kind of person to do chiropractic right. If you're one |
| What kinds of treatments to chiropractors provide? | | | | of those people, a career as a chiropractor could |
| Typically, the chiropractor will perform a physical | | | | prove to be a rewarding and successful choice. |