The roots of chiropractic care can be traced all the
way back to the beginning of recorded time.
Writings from China and Greece written
in 2700 B.C. and 1500 B.C. mention spinal
manipulation and the maneuvering of the
lower extremities to ease low back pain.
Hippocrates, the Greek physician, who lived
from 460 to 357 B.C., also published texts
detailing the importance of chiropractic
care. In one of his writings he declares,
"Get knowledge of the spine, for this is the
requisite for many diseases".
In the United States, the practice of spinal
manipulation began gaining momentum in the
late nineteenth century. In 1895, Daniel
David Palmer founded the Chiropractic
profession in Davenport, Iowa. Palmer was
well read in medical journals of his time
and had great knowledge of the developments
that were occurring throughout the world
regarding anatomy and physiology. In 1897,
Daniel David Palmer went on to begin the
Palmer School of Chiropractic, which has
continued to be one of the most prominent
chiropractic colleges in the nation.
Throughout the twentieth century, doctors of
chiropractic gained legal recognition in all
fifty states. A continuing recognition and
respect for the chiropractic profession in
the United States has led to growing support
for chiropractic care all over the world.
The research that has emerged from " around
the world" has yielded incredibly
influential results, which have changed,
shaped and molded perceptions of
chiropractic care. The report, Chiropractic
in New Zealand published in 1979 strongly
supported the efficacy of chiropractic care
and elicited medical cooperation in
conjunction with chiropractic care. The 1993
Manga study published in Canada investigated
the cost effectiveness of chiropractic care.
The results of this study concluded that
chiropractic care would save hundreds of
millions of dollars annually with regard to
work disability payments and direct health
care costs.
Doctors of chiropractic have become pioneers in
the field of non-invasive care promoting
science-based approaches to a variety of
ailments. A continuing dedication to
chiropractic research could lead to even
more discoveries in preventing and combating
maladies in future years.
Education of Doctors of Chiropractic
Doctors of Chiropractic must complete four to
five years at an accredited chiropractic
college. The complete curriculum includes a
minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom,
laboratory and clinical experience.
Approximately 555 hours are devoted to
learning about adjustive techniques and
spinal analysis in colleges of chiropractic.
In medical schools, training to become
proficient in manipulation is generally not
required of, or offered to, students. The
Council on Chiropractic Education requires
that students have 90 hours of undergraduate
courses with science as the focus.
Those intending to become doctors of chiropractic
must also pass the national board exam and
all exams required by the state in which the
individual wishes to practice. The
individual must also meet all individual
state licensing requirements in order to
become a doctor of chiropractic.
An individual studying to become a doctor of
chiropractic receives an education in both
the basic and clinical sciences and in
related health subjects. The intention of
the basic chiropractic curriculum is to
provide an in-depth understanding of the
structure and function of the human body in
health and disease. The educational program
includes training in the basic medical
sciences, including anatomy with human
dissection, physiology, and biochemistry.
Thorough training is also obtained in
differential diagnosis, radiology and
therapeutic techniques. This means, a doctor
of chiropractic can both diagnose and treat
patients, which separates them from
non-physician status providers, like
physical therapists. According to the
Council on Chiropractic Education DCs are
trained as Primary care Providers.
Scope of Practice
Doctors of Chiropractic frequently treat
individuals with neuromusculoskeletal
complaints, such as headaches, joint pain,
neck pain, low back pain and sciatica.
Chiropractors also treat patients with
osteoarthritis, spinal disk conditions,
carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, sprains,
and strains. However, the scope of
conditions that Doctors of Chiropractic
manage or provide care for is not limited to
neuromusculoskeletal disorders.
Chiropractors have the training to treat a
variety of non-neuromusculoskeletal
conditions such as: allergies, asthma,
digestive disorders, otitis media (non-suppurative)
and other disorders as new research is
developed. A variety of techniques,
treatment and procedure are used to restore
healing which will be the topic of future
education releases.
Advantages of Chiropractic as a
Professional Career
A career in chiropractic offers real
satisfaction and rewarding income. In
addition, doctors of chiropractic are their
own managers, establishing their own hours
and work habits. The chiropractic physician
enjoys the advantages of a profession that
is well established: one that ranks high in
prestige and service, does not limit a
person in opportunity, income or challenge,
yet offers opportunities of security and
community leadership.
A doctor enjoys respect of patients and
community for fulfilling an honorable and
needed function - that of maintaining the
health and welfare of the people. As such,
there are opportunities to make many friends
and to achieve social and civic prominence.
The doctor of chiropractic's hours allow
ample time to enjoy a full schedule of
social, business and professional
activities.
TEXAS BOARD OF
CHIROPRACTIC EXAMINERS
333 Guadeloupe, Tower III, Suite 815
Austin, TX 78701
Phone: (512) 305-6700
Fax: (512) 305-6705
Email:
tbce@tbce.state.tx.us
Web:
www.tbce.state.tx.us/
