Overview
countries. In 1843, Dr. J. Evans Riadore, a physician, studied the irritation of spinal nerves and recommended spinal manipulation as a treatment.
Daniel D. Palmer, an American, founded the system of chiropractic in 1895. He also coined the term chiropractic. Palmer believed that deviations of the spinal column, or subluxations, were the cause of practically all disease and that chiropractic adjustment was the cure.
Like many others who have tried to change the practice of medicine, Dr. Palmer encountered strong opposition from the medical establish-ment. He and other early chiropractors were imprisoned for practic-ing medicine without a license. In spite of the hardships, he and his followers persevered because of the success of their treatments in alleviating pain and promoting health. Their treatments sometimes had exceptionally positive results.
In spite of their successful work and a growing number of sup-porters, chiropractors were attacked by the medical establishment because they had little scientific research to support their claims.
In the 1970s, Dr. Chang Ha Suh, a Korean immigrant who was working at the University of Colorado, had the courage to conduct studies that provided extensive scientific research related to chiro-practic. Since then, numerous important studies have added to the research and to the credibility of chiropractic.
Today, chiropractic is the third largest primary health care pro-fession in the United States. Many quality schools of chiropractic exist, and doctors of chiropractic are licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Chiropractic is one of the fastest growing health care professions in the country.
tHe JOb
Chiropractors are trained primary health care providers, much like medical physicians. Chiropractors focus on the maintenance of health and disease prevention. In addition to symptoms, they consider each patient’s nutrition, work, stress levels, exercise habits, posture, and so on. Chiropractors treat people of all ages—from children to senior citizens. They see both women and men. Doctors of chiropractic most frequently treat conditions such as backache, disk problems, sciatica, and whiplash. They also care for people with headaches, respiratory disorders, allergies, digestive disturbances, elevated blood pressure, and many other common ailments. Some specialize in areas such as sports medicine or nutrition. Chiroprac-tors do not use drugs or surgery. If they determine that drugs or surgery are needed, they refer the individual to another professional who can meet those needs.
Doctors of chiropractic look for causes of disorders of the spine.
They consider the spine and the nervous system to be vitally impor-tant to the health of the individual. Chiropractic teaches that prob-lems in the spinal column (backbone) affect the nervous system and the body’s natural defense mechanisms and are the underlying causes of many diseases. Chiropractors use a special procedure called a
“spinal adjustment” to try to restore the spine to its natural healthy state. They believe this will also have an effect on the individual’s total health and well-being.
On the initial visit, doctors of chiropractic meet with the patient and take a complete medical history before beginning treatment.
They ask questions about all aspects of the person’s life to help determine the nature of the illness. Events in the individual’s past that may seem unrelated or unimportant may be significant to the chiropractor.
After the consultation and the case history, chiropractors per-form a careful physical examination, sometimes including labora-tory tests. When necessary, they use X rays to help locate the source of patients’ difficulties. Doctors of chiropractic study the X rays for more than just bone fractures or signs of disease. X rays are the only means of seeing the outline of the spinal column. Chiroprac-tors are trained to observe whether the structural alignment of the spinal column is normal or abnormal.
Once they have made a diagnosis, chiropractic physicians use a variety of natural approaches to help restore the individual to health. The spinal adjustment is the treatment for which chiroprac-tic is most known. During this procedure, patients usually lie on a specially designed adjusting table. Chiropractic physicians generally use their hands to manipulate the spine. They apply pressure and use specialized techniques of manipulation that are designed to help the affected areas of the spine. Doctors of chiropractic must know many sophisticated techniques of manipulation, and they spend countless hours learning to properly administer spinal adjustments. Chiro-practic treatments must often be repeated over the course of several visits. The number of treatments needed varies greatly.
In addition to the spinal adjustment, chiropractic physicians may use “physiologic therapeutics” to relieve symptoms. These are drug-less natural therapies, such as light, water, electrical stimulation, mas-sage, heat, ultrasound, and biofeedback. Chiropractors also make suggestions about diet, rest, exercise, and support of the afflicted body part. They may recommend routines for the patient to do at home to maintain and improve the results of the manipulation.
Chiropractors pay special attention to lifestyle factors, such as nutrition and exercise. They believe the body has an innate ability Chiropractors
to remain healthy if it has the proper ingredients. Doctors of chiro-practic propose that the essential ingredients include clean air, water, proper nutrition, rest, and a properly functioning nervous system.
Their goal is to maintain the health and well-being of the whole per-son. In this respect they have been practicing for many years what has recently become known as “health maintenance.”
Chiropractors who are in private practice and some who work as group practitioners also have responsibility for running their busi-nesses. They must promote their practices and develop their patient base. They are responsible for keeping records on their patients and for general bookkeeping. Sometimes they hire and train employees.
In larger practices or clinics, chiropractic assistants or office manag-ers usually perform these duties.
requireMeNts
High School
To become a doctor of chiropractic, you will have to study a mini-mum of six to seven years after high school. Preparing for this pro-fession is just as demanding as preparing to be a medical doctor, and the types of courses you will need are also similar. Science classes, such as biology, chemistry, physics, and psychology, will prepare you for medical courses in college. English, speech, drama, and debate A chiropractor provides back therapy to a patient. (Rob Crandall, The Image Works)
can sharpen the communication skills that are essential for this profession. Math, business, and computer classes can help you get ready to run a private practice.
Postsecondary Training
Most chiropractic colleges require at least two years of under-graduate study before you can enroll. Some require a bachelor’s degree. Currently, 15 chiropractic programs in the United States are accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE). Find out which chiropractic colleges interest you and learn about their requirements. Selecting chiropractic schools while in high school or college will allow you to structure your undergraduate study to meet the requirements of the schools of your choice. Some chiro-practic colleges provide opportunities for prechirochiro-practic study and bachelor’s degree programs. In general, you need course work in biology, communications, English, chemistry, physics, psychology, and social sciences or humanities. Contact the national professional associations listed at the end of this article for information about schools and their requirements.
Upon completing the required undergraduate work and enrolling in a chiropractic college, you can expect to take an array of science and medical courses, such as anatomy, pathology, and microbiology. Dur-ing the first two years of most chiropractic programs you will spend a majority of your time in the classroom or the laboratory. The last two years generally focus on courses in spinal adjustments. During this time, potential chiropractors also train in outpatient clinics affiliated with the college. Upon successful completion of the six- or seven-year professional degree program, you will receive the DC degree.
Certification or Licensing
All 50 states and the District of Columbia require that chiropractors pass a state board examination to obtain a license to practice. Edu-cational requirements and types of practice for which a chiropractor may be licensed vary from state to state. Most state boards recognize academic training only in chiropractic colleges accredited by the CCE. Most states will accept all or part of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners’ test given to fourth-year chiropractic stu-dents in place of a state exam. Most states require that chiropractors take continuing education courses each year to keep their licenses.
Other Requirements
Perhaps the most important personal requirement for any health care professional is the desire to help people and to promote whole-ness and health. To be a successful chiropractor, you need good
Chiropractors
listening skills, empathy, and understanding. As a doctor of chi-ropractic, you will also need a good business sense and the abil-ity to work independently. Especially sharp observational skills are essential in order for you to recognize physical abnormalities.
Good hand dexterity is necessary to perform the spinal adjust-ments and other manipulations. However, you do not need unusual strength.
exPLOriNG
If you are interested in becoming a chiropractor, there are many ways to start preparing right now. Join all the science clubs you can, design projects, and participate in science fairs. To develop interviewing and communication skills, you might join the school newspaper staff and ask for interview assignments. Learn to play chess, take up fencing, or study art history to increase your powers of observation. Take up an instrument, such as the piano, guitar, or violin, to improve your manual dexterity. Learning to give massages is another way to increase manual dexterity and learn the human body. Be sure to stay in shape and maintain your own health, and learn all you can about homeopathy, yoga, the Alexander technique, Rolfing, and other sys-tems of mind/body wholeness.
Contact the chiropractic professional associations and ask about their student programs. Check the Internet for bulletin boards or forums related to chiropractic and other areas of health care. Volun-teer at a hospital or nursing home to gain experience working with those in need of medical care.
If there is a doctor of chiropractic or a clinic in your area, ask to visit and talk to a chiropractor. Make an appointment for a chiro-practic examination so you can experience what it is like. You may even find a part-time or summer job in a chiropractic office.