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Chiropractic Specialist

Chiropractic (Greek: done by hand). A health care profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system and the effects of these disorders on general health. There is an emphasis on manual techniques, including joint adjustment and/or manipulation, with a particular focus on joint subluxation and restoring function.

Chiropractic arose as a separate profession in the United States in the 1890s. Until the 1950s the profession was concentrated in North America and was largely isolated from the mainstream of health care. In the 1960s and 1970s the foundations were laid for broader acceptance of the profession - improved educational and licensing standards, significant research, research texts and scientific journals, and legal recognition and regulation in all US states and various other countries.

Today, nearly 120 years after its birth, chiropractic is taught and practised throughout the world and the profession has earned broad acceptance from the public and in national health care systems for its services. It is widely regarded as the leading example of a complementary health care discipline reaching maturity and mainstream acceptance, and WHO has now published guidelines recommending minimal educational standards for the regulation of chiropractic services within national health care systems.

Chiropractic is unique amongst health care professions in that there are internationally set standards of education, meaning that qualification from an internationally accredited education establishment truly furnishes you with a portable qualification to take across the world.
 
Chiropractor, Doctor of Chiropractic and Chiropractic Physician titles are equivelant to each other. In order to attain this title one must study in basic medical sciences minimum of two years in an accredited college and/or university before applying to a university where chiropractic school and education is offered. Chiropractic education in United States is at least 6 years among graduating from high school. Once the chiropractor candidate gradutes, he/she must complete 4 national board exams which, test your medical/chiropractic/public health theoratical knowledge and practical skills. Some states also require state liscensing exams before getting the right to practice. Annual continuing education hours must be completed in order to keep the practicing license active.
 
In Europe a doctor of chiropractic candidate must complete the prerequisite basic medical sciences before entering a chiropractic institution. In Europe the duration of the education is of 4-5 years after highschool. 
Chiropractic is a well recognized, defined, practiced and researched health profession just like medicine, dentistry and nursing. In the majority of world where, the professions are well defined and regulated so the title protection exists. This means that without proper training one legally may not announce him/herself as a doctor of chiropractic nor state that he/she is practicing chiropractic. Chiropractic is not a technique that is learned over a weekend course but teaches many different spinal manipulative techniques.           

 

Practice

The relationship between structure, especially of the spine and musculoskeletal system and function, especially as coordinated by the nervous system, is central to the profession's approach to treatment, health and well being. 

Research demonstrates that the primary reasons patients consult chiropractors are back pain (approximately 60%), other musculoskeletal pain such as pain in the neck, shoulder, extremities and arthritic pain (20%) and headaches including migraine (10%). About 1 in 10 (10%) present with a wide variety of conditions caused, aggravated or mimicked by neuromusculoskeletal disorders (e.g. pseudo angina, dysmennorhea, respiratory and digestive dysfunctions).

Interdisciplinary practice is now common, with chiropractic doctors/chiropractors, medical doctors, physical therapists and others working as partners in private practices, occupational health, automobile accident and other rehabilitation centres and national sports medicine teams. While most chiropractic services are community based in private offices, hospital based services are today available in many countries.