Blog #29: Chiropractic is Adjusting the Spine and Much
More
In each
state in the U.S. chiropractors are licensed differently and allowed to offer
different services to the public. In
Michigan, possibly the most restrictive state, chiropractors are only allowed
to adjust the spine. In Illinois, by
contrast, chiropractors (DC’s) are included under the same physician license as
osteopaths (DO’s) and allopaths (MD’s).
DC’s can provide almost any service the other two groups of physicians
can, with the exception of writing prescriptions for drugs and performing
surgery. Some chiropractors in Illinois
function as primary care physicians (PCP’s).
Others have nutritional practices. Some manly help rehabilitate injured
athletes, or practice solely as radiologists. Chiropractors have been trained to use massage,
mobilization and other adjustments to help optimize position and function of all the bones, as well as of the muscles, tendons, ligaments,
and more. Many techniques are gentle and
slow, others are faster and more forceful.
In order to enter chiropractic
school, students must first complete a standard premed curriculum. Once in chiropractic school, DC’s receive
extensive training in radiology, pathology, microbiology, pathology, anatomy,
physiology, pharmacology, nutrition, spinal and extremity adjusting, pediatrics, geriatrics, and more.
Since DC’s
have been trained to recognize and diagnose disease, and to restore the body to health
without the use of drugs or surgery, it is often wise to consult a chiropractor
first with a problem, and therefore avoid unnecessary prescription medication or surgery. After an initial history and examination, the
DC may commence treatment, run some tests, or refer a patient out to an MD or
DO, depending on the health issue.
It is within
the scope of a DC’s license to practice hypnosis, offer nutritional guidance, prescribe
herbs, practice acupuncture, draw blood, use ultrasound and electrostim, teach
therapeutic exercises, and more. Several chiropractic schools offer excellent advanced curricula in acupuncture,
homeopathy, hypnosis, massage, sports rehabilitation, radiology, and other
aspects of health care.
This Blog’s
offer: two things I always notice about
patients that come to my office are posture and breathing. Poor posture or breathing can perpetuate pain
and prevent healing. This means that
excellent posture and breathing can greatly lessen or eliminate pain and speed
healing. Feel free to contact me for a
five to ten minute appointment, free of charge, during which I will show you
how to improve both posture and breathing.
