What is a Chiropractor?
The proper title for a doctor of chiropractic is "doctor" as
they are considered physicians under Medicare and in the overwhelming
majority of states. The professional credentials abbreviation " D.C." means
doctor of chiropractic. ACA also advocates in its Policies on Public Health
that D.C.'s may be referred to as (chiropractic) physicians as well.
Philosophy
As a profession, the primary belief is in natural and
conservative methods of health care. Doctors of chiropractic have a deep
respect for the human body's ability to heal itself without the use of
surgery or medication. These doctors devote careful attention to the
biomechanics, structure and function of the spine, its effects on the
musculoskeletal and neurological systems, and the role played by the proper
function of these systems in the preservation and restoration of health. A
Doctor of Chiropractic is one who is involved in the treatment and
prevention of disease, as well as the promotion of public health, and a
wellness approach to patient healthcare.
History
The roots of chiropractic care can be traced all the way back
to the beginning of recorded time. Writings from China and Greece written in
2700 B.C. and 1500 B.C. mention spinal manipulation and the maneuvering of
the lower extremities to ease low back pain. Hippocrates, the Greek
physician, who lived from 460 to 357 B.C., also published texts detailing
the importance of chiropractic care. In one of his writings he declares,
"Get knowledge of the spine, for this is the requisite for many diseases".
In the United States, the practice of spinal manipulation began gaining
momentum in the late nineteenth century. In 1895, Daniel David Palmer
founded the Chiropractic profession in Davenport, Iowa. Palmer was well read
in medical journals of his time and had great knowledge of the developments
that were occurring throughout the world regarding anatomy and physiology.
In 1897, Daniel David Palmer went on to begin the Palmer School of
Chiropractic, which has continued to be one of the most prominent
chiropractic colleges in the nation.
Throughout the twentieth century, doctors of chiropractic
gained legal recognition in all fifty states. A continuing recognition and
respect for the chiropractic profession in the United States has led to
growing support for chiropractic care all over the world. The research that
has emerged from " around the world" has yielded incredibly influential
results, which have changed, shaped and molded perceptions of chiropractic
care. The report, Chiropractic in New Zealand published in 1979 strongly
supported the efficacy of chiropractic care and elicited medical cooperation
in conjunction with chiropractic care. The 1993 Manga study published in
Canada investigated the cost effectiveness of chiropractic care. The results
of this study concluded that chiropractic care would save hundreds of
millions of dollars annually with regard to work disability payments and
direct health care costs.
Doctors of chiropractic have become
pioneers in the field of non-invasive care promoting science-based
approaches to a variety of ailments. A continuing dedication to chiropractic
research could lead to even more discoveries in preventing and combating
maladies in future years.
Scope of Practice
Doctors of Chiropractic frequently treat individuals with
neuromusculoskeletal complaints, such as headaches, joint pain, neck pain,
low back pain and sciatica. Chiropractors also treat patients with
osteoarthritis, spinal disk conditions, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis,
sprains, and strains. However, the scope of conditions that Doctors of
Chiropractic manage or provide care for is not limited to
neuromusculoskeletal disorders. Chiropractors have the training to treat a
variety of non-neuromusculoskeletal conditions such as: allergies, asthma,
digestive disorders, otitis media (non-suppurative) and other disorders as
new research is developed.
A variety of techniques, treatment and procedure are used to restore healing
which will be the topic of future education releases.
Techniques -
(
www.chirohelp.com/chiroterms.html )
SOT - ( www.sorsi.com )
Diversified
Thompson
Education
Doctors of Chiropractic must complete four to five years at
an accredited chiropractic college. The complete curriculum includes a
minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical experience.
Approximately 555 hours are devoted to learning about adjustive techniques
and spinal analysis in colleges of chiropractic. In medical schools,
training to become proficient in manipulation is generally not required of,
or offered to, students. The Council on Chiropractic Education requires that
students have 90 hours of undergraduate courses with science as the focus.
Those intending to become doctors of chiropractic must also pass the
national board exam and all exams required by the state in which the
individual wishes to practice. The individual must also meet all individual
state licensing requirements in order to become a doctor of chiropractic.
An individual studying to become a doctor of chiropractic receives an
education in both the basic and clinical sciences and in related health
subjects. The intention of the basic chiropractic curriculum is to provide
an in-depth understanding of the structure and function of the human body in
health and disease. The educational program includes training in the basic
medical sciences, including anatomy with human dissection, physiology, and
biochemistry. Thorough training is also obtained in differential diagnosis,
radiology and therapeutic techniques. This means, a doctor of chiropractic
can both diagnose and treat patients, which separates them from
non-physician status providers, like physical therapists. According to the
Council on Chiropractic Education D.C.'s are trained as Primary care Providers.
Click HERE to
Compare Chiropractic Doctors and Medical Doctors education
FAQ's
Q. How many doctors of chiropractic (DCs) are in my state?
What is the ratio of D.C.s to the population in my
state?
Which states allow D.C.s to practice a particular modality?
A. Contact the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards (FCLB) for more
information. Phone: 970-356-3500. Web site:
www.fclb.org
bullet FCLB maintains statistics on the licenses issued by state.
bullet FCLB also includes a synopsis of each state's Scope of Practice in
its directory,
bullet which is available online.
Contact the chiropractic association in your state for more information as
well. Click here for a list of state associations:
http://www.acatoday.com/about/state_assoc.shtml
Q. How many doctors of chiropractic practice in the US?
A. According to a December 1997 report produced by
the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research titled, "Chiropractic in the
United States: Training, Practice and Research," there were approximately
50,000 doctors of chiropractic licensed in the United States in 1994. A
recent study estimated that the number of chiropractors will double by the
year 2010 to over 100,000 - far exceeding the 16 percent increase projected
for medical doctors.¹
Q. How many Americans visit doctors of chiropractic per year?
A. According to results of a survey published in the
November 11, 1998 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association,
approximately 11 percent of the population had visited a doctor of
chiropractic in the previous year.² According to the US Census Bureau, today
there are approximately 288 million people in the United States.³ Assuming
the 11% annual figure has remained unchanged, the number of people who visit
a chiropractor every year is now approximately 31.6 million.
1. Cooper RA, Stoflet SJ. Trends in the education and
practice of alternative medicine clinicians. Health Affairs 1996; 15:226-38.
2. Eisenberg DM, Davis RB, Ettner SL, Appel S, Wilkey S, Van Rompay M,
Kessler RC. Trends in Alternative Medicine Use in the United States,
1990-1997: Results of a Follow-up National Survey. JAMA 1998; 280:
1569-1575.
3. www.census.gov keeps a running tally of the population
Reference Websites
Chiropractic Journals - (
www.chiroweb.net )
Various Journals with articles and research regarding Chiropractic
Board of Chiropractic Examiners - (
www.chiro.ca.gov )
Governing Board for the State of California
Cleveland Chiropractic College - (
www.cleveland.edu )
Local College Dr. Speckman attended
American Chiropractic Association - (
www.amerchiro.org )
International Chiropractic Pediatric Association - (
www.icpa4kids.com )
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