A Doctor of Chiropractic practices within a branch of the healing arts concerned with disease processes. Chiropractic care is a recognized form of treatment that focuses on improving your overall health and well-being without the use of drugs or surgery.
A chiropractor, also known as a Doctor of Chiropractic (“D.C.”), diagnoses and treats a broad range of physical conditions in patients with skeletal, nervous, and muscular problems, with particular emphasis on correction through spinal adjustments. However spinal adjustments are a small part of what chiropractors can do as part of an overall plan to relieve many ailments. Other types of treatments chiropractors are capable of providing can include:
- Massage
- Physical rehabilitation
- Physiotherapy
- Acupuncture
- Exercise programs with instruction
- Heat/cold therapy
- Electric muscle stimulation
- Ultrasound
- Traction
- Nutrition and lifestyle counseling
Chiropractors are required to complete a course of study similar to that of medical doctors. Generally they are required to have undergraduate credits in biology, chemistry, physics and social sciences before being accepted in to a Doctor of Chiropractic program in the United States. Most Chiropractors hold a bachelors degree before entering Chiropractic College and some earn the remaining requirements of a bachelor degree while in Chiropractic College. Doctor of Chiropractic programs are a 5 year program that most Chiropractors finish in 3 and 1/3 years on a trimester system. During the first years students receive classroom and laboratory work in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, pathology, biochemistry, and public health. The final years include hands on courses in spinal and extremity adjusting techniques as well as clinical experience that may cover areas such as orthopedics, geriatrics, pediatrics, biomechanics, radiology, neurology, diagnosis, and natural medicine.
A one-year internship at a college clinic is included during the clinical courses. Some chiropractic colleges have interns rotate through hospital rounds with medical students and some colleges give students the opportunity to intern with Chiropractors their last term. Many Chiropractors continue their education by undertaking four or five additional years of postgraduate study in a chosen clinical area.
After obtaining their degree, Chiropractors must complete National Board exam parts I, II, III, IV and physiotherapy from the National Board of Examiners (NBCE) before they can sit for the state board exam in the state they plan to practice in. The chiropractic boards include both written examinations and oral practical exams including x-ray interpretation and clinical practice. All Chiropractors must meet these requirements. They also must obtain ongoing continuing education credits.
