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.
Education of Doctors of
Chiropractic
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
DCs are trained as Primary care
Providers.
What is a Doctor of
Chiropractic?
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 DCs may be
referred to as (chiropractic)
physicians as well.
Chiropractic 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.
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.
Works Cited
- Chapman-Smith, David: The
Chiropractic Profession. West
Des Moines, Iowa, NCMIC Group
Inc., 2000: 11-17, 70-71.
- Chiropractic: State of Art.
Arlington, Virginia, American
Chiropractic Association, 1998:
2-3, 12-14.
- Spinal Manipulation Policy
Statement. Arlington, Virginia:
American Chiropractic
Association, 1999: 6.
