What is a Chiropractor?

A chiropractor is a trained medical professional who treats people who have problems or ailments of the musculoskeletal system. Many chiropractors believe that problems with various muscles or joints have an adverse reaction on the nervous system, which can create problems with the overall health and well-being of the individual. While most chiropractors treat and diagnose problems with the spine, they can also treat other ailments such as headaches, arthritis and sports-related injuries.

Job Description

One of the unique aspects of this field of medicine is that it does not involve any surgical forms of treatment or use of any prescription drugs. They rely solely on joint manipulation with their hands and provide an all-natural alternative to treatments that affect the musculoskeletal system.

The main goal of a chiropractor is to align the muscular and skeletal system and allow the nervous system to function normally. In a similar manner to most health care providers, chiropractors perform an initial physical exam, gather information from the patient to complete a medical history, take x-rays and perform other diagnostic tests to arrive at a diagnosis for the patient. Based on the results of these tests, they will perform an adjustment of the spinal column in an effort to alleviate the patient's health problems.

Other than a manual adjustment of the musculoskeletal system, they may also use other forms of treatment such as acupuncture, massage and therapies using heat, light or ultrasound techniques. They may also give advice to their patients and make recommendations such as making changes in diet, exercise, stress management and other changes in lifestyle. Chiropractors also have the option of creating a specialty in orthopedics, sports medicine, neurology, internal disorders and nutrition.

Educational Requirements

The path to becoming a chiropractor involves several years of schooling and training before a license can be obtained. While the minimum educational requirement for enrollment in a chiropractic program is at least 90 semester hours, most people complete a bachelor's degree program at an accredited college. During this time, undergraduates take courses which will help prepare them for working with the musculoskeletal system such as anatomy, physics, chemistry and biology.

The completion of a chiropractic program generally takes four years to complete and involves training in clinical situations and laboratory work. The program also trains students on how to manipulate and provide adjustments to the muscular and skeletal system and offers specialty training. Upon completion of a chiropractic program, applicants must also meet licensing requirements for their state and complete an examination conducted by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. The information is the same, although the exams may differ slightly according to state practice. In other words, someone can receive education and training anywhere in the country, such as Los Angeles, Calif., and open an office as a chiropractor in Virginia Bbeach, Virginia, and provide a standardized service to clients.

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