Occupational Description and Outlook
Chiropractors, also known as doctors of chiropractic or chiropractic physicians, diagnose and treat patients whose health problems are associated with the body’s muscular, nervous, and skeletal systems, especially the spine. Chiropractors believe that interference with these systems impairs the body’s normal functions and lowers its resistance to disease. They also hold that spinal or vertebral dysfunction alters many important body functions by affecting the nervous system and that skeletal imbalance through joint or articular dysfunction, especially in the spine, can cause pain.
The chiropractic approach to health care is holistic, stressing the patient’s overall health and wellness. It recognizes that many factors affect health, including exercise, diet, rest, environment, and heredity. Chiropractors provide natural, drugless, nonsurgical health treatments and rely on the body’s inherent recuperative abilities. They also recommend changes in lifestyle—in eating, exercise, and sleeping habits, for example—to their patients. When appropriate, chiropractors consult with and refer patients to other health practitioners.
Like other health practitioners, chiropractors follow a standard routine to secure the information they need for diagnosis and treatment. They take the patient’s medical history; conduct physical, neurological, and orthopedic examinations; and may order laboratory tests. X rays and other diagnostic images are important tools because of the chiropractor’s emphasis on the spine and its proper function. Chiropractors also employ a postural and spinal analysis common to chiropractic diagnosis.
In cases in which difficulties can be traced to the involvement of musculoskeletal structures, chiropractors manually adjust the spinal column. Some chiropractors use water, light, massage, ultrasound, electric, acupuncture, and heat therapy. They also may apply supports such as straps, tapes, and braces. Chiropractors counsel patients about wellness concepts such as nutrition, exercise, changes in lifestyle, and stress management, but do not prescribe drugs or perform surgery.
Admission Requirements for Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) Programs
Undergraduate pre-requisites for graduate-level training in chiropractic medicine vary by academic institution. Students interested in this field are thus encouraged to research individual requirements for programs of interest (www.chirocolleges.org ). That said, most programs are quite similar in what they require of their applicants. Typically, DC programs expect a BA or BS with the following undergraduate curriculum:
1 year Biology with lab (BIOL 150,151 and 152)
1 year Inorganic Chemistry with lab (CHEM 105 and 106)
1 year Organic Chemistry (CHEM 309 and 310)
1 year Physics with lab (PHYS 201 and 211 or PHYS 202 and 212)
1 year English (FYS and a writing intensive course count)
1 semester Psychology
Because one’s undergraduate major is not a factor in admission, applicants may complete pre-requisites as major requirements or as general education requirements.
Most DC programs also expect applicants to have had exposure to the field of chiropractic medicine and a record of service to the community. The MCAT is not required. Since there is no central application service for DC programs, applications should be requested directly from the schools themselves. Applicants are encouraged to apply one full year prior to the desired start term.
An Overview of Doctor of Chiropractic Education
A standard DC program is usually completed within four years of professional study.
The program generally consists of two years of classroom and laboratory study
followed by two years emphasizing community based clinical services dealing with the
diagnosis and treatment of disease. After graduation, a DC must pass the sciences and
Chiropractic sections of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. All states
administer a state board exam following the passing of the national exam. Chiropractic
is recognized and regulated in every state, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Canada.
Helpful DC Links:
American Chiropractic Association (ACA): www.amerchiro.org
Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC):www.chirocolleges.org |
