subject: Are Chiropractors Really Doctors? [print this page] Are Chiropractors Really Doctors?
In 1895, a grocer and magnetic healer named Daniel David Palmer founded chiropractic medicine. According to his theory, disease is caused when the bones of the spine are misaligned, interfering with the flow of energy from the brain to various parts of the body. In order to correct these subluxations, he came up with a precise series of adjustments that could be performed to bring the spine back into correct position, thus restoring the proper flow of energy throughout the body.Perhaps because of its origins in magnetic healing and its emphasis on difficult-to-quantify phenomena such as energy flow, many people, including some medical doctors, are skeptical about the legitimacy of chiropractic. In spite of their doubts, there are many reasons to have confidence in the care of these educated professionals. Some doubters may mistakenly believe that chiropractors have scant medical training, but this could not be further from the truth.Students must complete at least two years of undergraduate study with emphasis on biology, general and organic chemistry, physics, psychology, and English communications. All science classes must contain laboratories. Increasingly, a four-year Bachelor's degree is a prerequisite for entry into chiropractic school. Currently, there are sixteen accredited chiropractic schools in the United States.All of them are four-year programs. During this time, students focus in depth on anatomy, physiology, pathology, biochemistry, microbiology, and public health. An average of seventy percent of their time is spent on clinical education, including extensive hands-on work in chiropractic clinics. In addition to the general sciences described above, aspiring chiropractors spend a great deal of time learning adjustive technique, spinal analysis, principles and practices of chiropractic, physiologic therapeutics, and biomechanics. After this rigorous course of study, students have both a theoretical and practical understanding of the human anatomy, as well as how to analyze and treat problems that may arise.As alternative medical techniques have become increasingly accepted in Western culture, chiropractic has at last achieved respect in the eyes of many, including insurers who will often subsidize patient visits. No longer are those who practice this discipline viewed as akin to snake charmers or witch doctors. Walk into most chiropractic clinics today and you will be greeted by the sight of physical therapy equipment such as electronic stimulation machines, as well as the standard adjustment table. Many chiropractors have x-ray facilities on the premises or, if they do not, they ask patients to bring copies of their x-rays in for the first visit.Chiropractors do not limit themselves to what they learned in school. Instead, most continue their education, often becoming adept at techniques such as acupressure and Reiki. Frequently, they will share their space with massage therapists and experts in nutrition who can further help patients achieve not only relief from pain, but also overall physical wellness. For that is, ultimately, the goal of this field.In the most technical of senses, chiropractors are not medical doctors. They cannot prescribe medications or perform surgery. And yet, they, along with their physician colleagues, can work in concert to help patients achieve a life that is as comfortable, happy, and free of pain as possible.
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