What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a health care profession focusing on disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic services are used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including, but not limited to: Back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs and headaches.
Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs), often referred to as chiropractors or chiropractic physicians, practice a hands-on, drug-free approach to health care including patient examination, diagnosis and treatment. Chiropractors have broad diagnostic skills and are also trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as well as to provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling.
DCs may assess patients through clinical examination, laboratory testing, diagnostic imaging and other diagnostic interventions to determine when chiropractic treatment is appropriate. Chiropractors will readily refer patients to the appropriate health care provider when chiropractic care is not suitable for the patient’s condition, or the condition warrants co-management in conjunction with other health care providers.
Click here for Key Facts provided by the American Chiropractic Association.
Chiropractic is a health care profession focusing on disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic services are used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including, but not limited to: Back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs and headaches.
Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs), often referred to as chiropractors or chiropractic physicians, practice a hands-on, drug-free approach to health care including patient examination, diagnosis and treatment. Chiropractors have broad diagnostic skills and are also trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as well as to provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling.
DCs may assess patients through clinical examination, laboratory testing, diagnostic imaging and other diagnostic interventions to determine when chiropractic treatment is appropriate. Chiropractors will readily refer patients to the appropriate health care provider when chiropractic care is not suitable for the patient’s condition, or the condition warrants co-management in conjunction with other health care providers.
Click here for Key Facts provided by the American Chiropractic Association.
|
Download the About Chiropractic brochure for more information:
|
| ||
What to Expect at Your First Visit
Many new patients are not sure what to expect during their first appointment with a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC). Chiropractors start by taking a patient’s history and then performing a physical examination to develop a working diagnosis. Imaging or lab tests (such as MRI, CT scan or X-ray) may be used to confirm a diagnosis.
The combination of the history, exam and diagnostic studies will enable your DC to reach a diagnosis, which will help him or her to determine whether chiropractic services are appropriate for your condition. If your doctor determines you would be more appropriately managed or co-managed by another health care professional, he or she will make the proper referral.
Through a process of shared decision-making, you and your doctor will determine if chiropractic services are right for you. As part of this process, the doctor will explain your condition, recommend a treatment plan and review the risks and benefits of all procedures. Based on the extent, timing or severity of the patient’s condition, chiropractic interventions may require several visits. Patients may also receive advice on home care, lifestyle modifications, exercise instruction and nutritional advice.
The Training of a Chiropractor
Chiropractic doctors go through a minimum of four years of schooling at a chiropractic college, generally preceded by an undergraduate degree in the basic sciences or several years of experience in a prior relevant healthcare field. Students of chiropractic care must spend a minimum of at least 4,200 hours with their teacher, and a minimum of 1,000 hours of fully supervised clinical training with an instructor as they learn the appropriate diagnosis and treatment techniques to help heal your body and restore it to its natural, fully functioning state.
Suggested Reading
Discover Wellness: How Staying Healthy Can Make You Rich by Michael Zimmerman & Dr. Jason A., Deitch. Discover Wellness teaches us how to avoid the impending health care crisis by staying healthy. Well researched and full of powerful information, Dr. Deitch's book describes the process of staying well.
Many new patients are not sure what to expect during their first appointment with a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC). Chiropractors start by taking a patient’s history and then performing a physical examination to develop a working diagnosis. Imaging or lab tests (such as MRI, CT scan or X-ray) may be used to confirm a diagnosis.
The combination of the history, exam and diagnostic studies will enable your DC to reach a diagnosis, which will help him or her to determine whether chiropractic services are appropriate for your condition. If your doctor determines you would be more appropriately managed or co-managed by another health care professional, he or she will make the proper referral.
Through a process of shared decision-making, you and your doctor will determine if chiropractic services are right for you. As part of this process, the doctor will explain your condition, recommend a treatment plan and review the risks and benefits of all procedures. Based on the extent, timing or severity of the patient’s condition, chiropractic interventions may require several visits. Patients may also receive advice on home care, lifestyle modifications, exercise instruction and nutritional advice.
The Training of a Chiropractor
Chiropractic doctors go through a minimum of four years of schooling at a chiropractic college, generally preceded by an undergraduate degree in the basic sciences or several years of experience in a prior relevant healthcare field. Students of chiropractic care must spend a minimum of at least 4,200 hours with their teacher, and a minimum of 1,000 hours of fully supervised clinical training with an instructor as they learn the appropriate diagnosis and treatment techniques to help heal your body and restore it to its natural, fully functioning state.
Suggested Reading
Discover Wellness: How Staying Healthy Can Make You Rich by Michael Zimmerman & Dr. Jason A., Deitch. Discover Wellness teaches us how to avoid the impending health care crisis by staying healthy. Well researched and full of powerful information, Dr. Deitch's book describes the process of staying well.
