This information is provided to broaden the understanding of chiropractic and health care in general. The following are research and facts both:
Definition
“Chiropractic is a health care discipline which emphasizes the inherent recuperative power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery. The practice of chiropractic focuses on the relationship between structure (primarily the spine) and function (as coordinated by the nervous system) and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health. In addition, Doctors of Chiropractic recognize the value and responsibility of working in cooperation with other health care practitioners when in the best interest of the patient.”
“The principle of chiropractic is that the body’s innate recuperative power is affected by and integrated through the nervous system.”
The practice of chiropractic includes establishing a diagnosis; facilitating neurological and biomechanical integrity through appropriate chiropractic case management; and advising and educating patients on spinal hygiene, rehabilitative exercise, nutrition, and healthful living practices.
“A subluxation is a complex of functional and/or structural and/or pathological articular changes that compromise neural integrity and may influence organ system function and general health. A subluxation is evaluated, diagnosed,and managed through the use of chiropractic procedures based on the bes available rational and empirical evidence.”
The Association of Chiropractic Colleges, Position Paper
Maryland definition:
Practice chiropractic includes the diagnosing and locating of misaligned or displaced vertebrae and, through the manual manipulation and adjustments of the spine and other skeletal structures, treating disorders of the human body.
Chiropractic Facts
1. To earn a Doctor of Chiropractic degree the candidate must complete a four year program consisting of 4800 hours of classroom, laboratory, and clinical study, including anatomy, physiology, chiropractic technique, radiology, biochemistry, toxicology, biomechanics, nutrition, diagnosis and physical examination, and a clinical internship consisting of one year of hands on clinical experience and training in a professional clinical setting. The CCE is officially recognized as an accredition agency by the US Department of Education. The CCE is a member of the Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation (COPA) and the Coucil of Specialized Accrediting Agencies (CSSA).
2. The D.C. must obtain a state license through examination before receiving the privilege of practice.
3. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico license doctors of Chiropractic. All these jurisdictions include Chiropractic health care in their workers’ compensation statutes.
4. Chiropractic services are included in Medicare, the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, Federal Workers’ Compensation laws, most Federal Employees’ Benefits programs, the Railroad Retirement Act, and the Longshoremen’s & Harbor Workers’ compensation Act.
5. In the private sector, virtually all commercial insurance carriers include Chiropractic services in their health plans.
6. The National Conference of Insurance Legislators adopted a model; bill for state health-insurance programs that defines “physician” to include the doctor of Chiropractic.
7. The Department of Health and Human Services classifies doctors of Chiropractic as category 1 providers, just like medical doctors, osteopaths, and dentists.
8. The U.S. Public Health Service classifies doctors of Chiropractic among “medical specialists and practitioners.”
9. Chiropractic is the third largest health care profession in the Western world behind medicine and dentistry.
10. 94% of the spinal manipulation done in the U.S. is done by chiropractors.
