Chiropractic Doctors
If you have ever suffered from migraine headaches, persistent back pain, indigestion or heartburn, menstrual problems or even swollen ankles, you’ve probably mentioned these things to your general medical practitioner on one or more occasions. You may have tried over-the-counter treatments, prescription medications or holistic treatments in your quest for relief. What you may not have considered is a chiropractic doctor.
At its core, chiropractic medicine holds that a misalignment of the spine or spinal vertebrae can be the reason for many of society’s most persistent health problems. Chiropractors refer to this misalignment as subluxation and they work to correct it through a process called chiropractic adjustment (or spinal manipulation).
Unlike a standard doctor, chiropractors are not licensed to give their patients prescription medication. Their approach is more holistic and, while they may send a patient to a specialist or suggest traditional testing from time to time, chiropractic medicine is often viewed as being outside the mainstream of medical practice. It is interesting to note that, countering that viewpoint is the fact that most major insurance providers regularly cover chiropractic services.
Chiropractors approach their patient’s health from the standpoint of the body’s inherent ability to heal itself. This type of medicine uses hands-on, tactile treatments to realign the spine and, thereby, the nervous system. It is entirely drug-free and non-invasive. While a standard doctor may tend to treat a patient’s symptoms, a chiropractic doctor seeks to locate and correct the cause of those symptoms.
People tend to question whether or not chiropractors are “real doctors.” Using the Doctor of Chiropractic Program at New York Chiropractic College as an example, resident study plus internship totals five years. Course hours are spent on subjects such as anatomy, biochemistry, chiropractic techniques and chiropractic philosophy.
Having obtained a degree, the chiropractic doctor must pursue the correct licensing in the jurisdiction of their practice. This means successfully passing board exams (which may be at a state or national level). Some jurisdictions may also require that the chiropractic doctor continues his or her education in order to be eligible for ongoing license renewal. This should ease any patient’s concerns about putting their spinal health and overall wellness and vitality in the capable hands of a doctor of chiropractic medicine.
At its core, chiropractic medicine holds that a misalignment of the spine or spinal vertebrae can be the reason for many of society’s most persistent health problems. Chiropractors refer to this misalignment as subluxation and they work to correct it through a process called chiropractic adjustment (or spinal manipulation).
Unlike a standard doctor, chiropractors are not licensed to give their patients prescription medication. Their approach is more holistic and, while they may send a patient to a specialist or suggest traditional testing from time to time, chiropractic medicine is often viewed as being outside the mainstream of medical practice. It is interesting to note that, countering that viewpoint is the fact that most major insurance providers regularly cover chiropractic services.
Chiropractors approach their patient’s health from the standpoint of the body’s inherent ability to heal itself. This type of medicine uses hands-on, tactile treatments to realign the spine and, thereby, the nervous system. It is entirely drug-free and non-invasive. While a standard doctor may tend to treat a patient’s symptoms, a chiropractic doctor seeks to locate and correct the cause of those symptoms.People tend to question whether or not chiropractors are “real doctors.” Using the Doctor of Chiropractic Program at New York Chiropractic College as an example, resident study plus internship totals five years. Course hours are spent on subjects such as anatomy, biochemistry, chiropractic techniques and chiropractic philosophy.
Having obtained a degree, the chiropractic doctor must pursue the correct licensing in the jurisdiction of their practice. This means successfully passing board exams (which may be at a state or national level). Some jurisdictions may also require that the chiropractic doctor continues his or her education in order to be eligible for ongoing license renewal. This should ease any patient’s concerns about putting their spinal health and overall wellness and vitality in the capable hands of a doctor of chiropractic medicine.