Are Chiropractors Actual Doctors?
The field of chiropractic was founded by Daniel David Palmer, a grocer who had dabbled previously in other areas of alternative medicine, in 1895. According to his hypothesis, disease is caused because the bones of the spinal column are out of alignment, impeding the flow of energy from the brain to various organs 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.
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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. 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. In both the United States and around the world there are many high quality accredited chiropractic schools.
Chiropractic schools offer four year programs. 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.
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. 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.
Most chiropractors 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. Physical wellness is, ultimately, the goal of this field, so chiropractors are open to any alternatives that may benefit patients.
Technically chiropractors are not medical doctors. 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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