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.
The American Chiropractic Association 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.
Article reprinted from American
Chiropractic Association
