One of the most specialized branches of the healing arts, chiropractic care is used to treat problems such as: lower back pain, stress-related headaches, and neck pain. It is also effective in controlling pain associated with arthritis.
The chiropractor's tool is the spinal adjustment. It is not a massage. The adjustments reset the alignment of the spine to restore normal nerve function. The method dates back to ancient Greece and Hypocrites, the Father of Medicine.
Established in 1895, the first chiropractic license in the US was issued in 1913. Today, every state and territory licenses chiropractic, as do all provinces in Canada, and many countries worldwide. Doctors of Chiropractic are recognized as primary care doctors in all 50 states giving more than 200 million treatments each year in the US Workers Compensation programs often call upon chiropractic health care to treat injured employees, as do most insurance companies. All American citizens are entitled to chiropractic care under the Medicare programs.
It takes at least seven years of college to earn a Doctor of Chiropractic degree. The chiropractic student is required to study human anatomy, spinal anatomy, neuro anatomy, chemistry, diagnosis and x-ray. Like medical doctors, the DC must obtain a basic science background in a college or university and then attend a four-year accredited College of Chiropractic. The focus of the education is in maintaining health with a specialty in spinal care.