More
patients went to alternative doctors than traditional medical doctors last year.
Chiropractic is the second largest doctoral level health
profession.
Chiropractic is a branch of the healing arts concerned with the human health and the
wellness process. Doctors of chiropractic see the human body as an integrated being. Their
unique science works to relieve all kinds of conditions and ailments without drugs or
surgery. With more Americans determined to seek safer treatment for their health, it's
understandable that chiropractic is growing so quickly. There are over 50,000 doctors of
chiropractic practicing in the United States today, helping nearly 20 million patients.
What many people don't realize, however, is just how long chiropractic has been one of the
healing arts - and the long, intensive education required to become a doctor of
chiropractic.
While chiropractic has been around as a separate and
distinct profession for a little more than 100 years, the concepts behind chiropractic
have been employed for centuries. Historians believe it was first practiced as far back as
2700 BC by the ancient Chinese, as well as the Egyptians, Hindus and Tibetans. Even
ancient American Indians depicted 'back walking" in their hieroglyphics. The great
Greek physician Hippocrates, who recognized the importance of spinal manipulation, was
known to have said:
"Get to know the spine for this is the center of many diseases."
Chiropractic and your body: making the connection
Many people today associate chiropractic only with healing lower back pain. While that is
true, the reality goes far beyond those orthopedic areas. Chiropractic is a form of
healing based on the idea that the human body has an innate self-healing ability and seeks
balance. Our nervous system plays a major role in maintaining that balance. When problems
in our spine and other joints interfere with the proper functioning of our nervous system,
our body's health is diminished. Doctors of chiropractic seek to bring the body back into
balance, using the body's own built-in survival and healing mechanisms. To do this, DC's
employ manual adjustment of the spine, so nerve and skeletal systems are allowed to
function properly. There may be times when your body is not able to overcome the condition
and drugs or surgery may be warranted. When this occurs, a doctor of chiropractic will
refer you to the appropriate medical professional.
Chiropractic is recognized as a sound healthcare choice and has gained a wide degree of
acceptance. Services are covered by most major private insurance and worker's compensation
carriers and Medicare. Adults as well as children of all ages are benefiting from
chiropractic care. Even pregnant women are experiencing relief through chiropractic for
back and leg pain as well as headaches and nausea. The bottomline: Successful treatment
for patients of all ages.
How is a doctor of chiropractic different from a medical doctor?
Doctors of chiropractic do not perform surgery or use drugs.
Instead, they take a natural, hands-on healing approach. As primary care providers, they
go through years of rigorous education and training to be licensed.
Doctors of chiropractic are extensively trained in the healing
sciences and in many areas receive more intensive training than MD's, especially regarding
the spine. They use many of the same procedures as an MD to evaluate a patient: full case
history, physical exam, lab analysis and a possible X-ray examination. Because
chiropractic education centers on health, not disease, a doctor of chiropractic (DC) will
also carefully evaluate lifestyle issues, including nutrition, exercise and stress.
Education: Just how much education do chiropractors receive? In
total, a doctor of chiropractic attends an average of seven years of school. DC's must
first complete a college education - focusing on the basic sciences - before they can
attend an accredited chiropractic college. There are accredited chiropractic colleges
throughout the country. Like the best teaching schools, they have extensive resources for
students: libraries, laboratories and public clinics. Once in chiropractic college,
students must complete four to five academic years of professional study with no less than
4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory and extensive clinical experience. Some of the
courses they are required to take include anatomy, physiology, pathology, neurology and
biochemistry, among many others. Only after all of the requirements are satisfactorily met
and national and state examination completed can a chiropractor become licensed. Then, to
further upgrade the competency, knowledge and the skill levels of graduates, each
accredited college maintains an ongoing post-graduate education division as well, to
provide required continuing education in order to maintain their professional license.
Comparison of Minimum Hours of Study Required
| Chiropractic College |
|
Medical
School |
456
243
296
161
145
149
271
66
168
2,419 |
Anatomy
Physiology
Pathology
Chemistry
Microbiology
Neurology
X-ray
Psychology/ Psychiatry
Orthopedic
Total Hours |
215
174
507
100
113
171
13
284
2
2,047 |
For more
information on chiropractic, contact: The Alliance for Chiropractic Progress
1-800-377-8397
