What is Chiropractic Care?

Chiropractic Care is not just about back pain! Chiropractors have always been recognized as back and neck pain specialists, however, most people don't realize that Chiropractic Care is the best Alternative Health Care available today! American's have fallen into a pattern of running to their Medical Doctor for drugs (to relieve our discomfort, symptoms, aches and pains), in order to continue with our normal lives. However, we fail to realize that by doing this, we are not solving any of our physical problems, we are only covering up the cause, and generating new ailments from poisoning our bodies with chemicals that are foreign to us. In turn, our lives are no longer normal, but end up complicated with physical problems. We need to find the cause of our health problems and correct them before they result in long term ailments, surgery, or even death.
Chiropractic Care is the safe, natural, drug free way to achieve health and stay healthy. It is about treating the whole person for all kinds of physical problems, such as: menstrual problems, digestive problems, asthma, colds, headaches, sciatica, sinus, neurological problems, colic, bed wetting, and any other physical problems you can think of. Regular Chiropractic Care will help you achieve more energy for feeling more alive, having better sports performance, and by helping you have a drug free life!

CHIROPRACTIC PRACTICE & PROCEDURES:
CONSULTATION
Chiropractic evaluation procedure normally begins with an initial case history. This involves recording chief complaints of the patient and specific symptomatic characteristics such as location, severity, character, frequency and duration of complaint. Date of onset is noted as well as the mode of onset or mechanism of injury. Information is also noted regarding past treatment for the current illness/injury as well as information on operations, other injuries and serious illnesses of the past.

Depending upon the type and severity of chief complaint(s), further history may be recorded relating to familial illnesses, habits, work activities, current medications, diet, etc. Details of the case history determine the patient's need for various examination procedures, which will in turn determine the specific treatment required.

EXAMINATION
Doctors of chiropractic use various testing procedures in the diagnosis of human ailments. Many procedures are done routinely in the chiropractor's office while other procedures are referred commonly to specialists. Below is a list of many of the tests performed. This list is not meant to be all inclusive.
ROUTINE EXAMINATIONS*
X-ray examination                                                        Palpation evaluation
Chiropractic testing                                                      Postural analysis
Orthopedic testing                                                        Blood analysis
Neurological testing                                                     Vascular assessment
Physical examination                                                    Manual and electronic muscle testing Urinalysis

SPECIALIZED EXAMINATlONS*
Electro Myographic Study (EMG)
Nerve Conduction Velocity Study (NCV)
Computer Tomography Scans (CT)
Thermography
Electro Cardiographic Study (EKG/ECG)
Electri Encephalographic Study (EEG)
Radionuclide Imaging Study (Bone Scans)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Studies (MRI)
*State laws may vary

TREATMENT
History and examination findings lead the treating doctor to a diagnosis and treatment plan. The plan may include adjustment, manipulation, physical therapeutic modalities, exercise recommendations, nutritional recommendations and/or supplementation, orthopedic supports and appliances, instructions for home care, estimated duration of disability, and frequency/duration of treatment.

The treatment plan is monitored by periodic re-examinations. Alterations are made as interim examination findings indicate and specialist consultations are scheduled as needed. Normally, as the patient progresses, the frequency of treatment decreases.

Chiropractic is a conservative, non-duplicating health care service since chiropractors treat disorders of the human body non invasively, without the use of drugs or surgery.

Unique to the chiropractic profession is the use of the chiropractic adjustment. Doctors of Chiropractic utilize a skilled manipulation that distinguishes them from other health sciences. This adjustment/skilled manipulation may be done by hand or by instrumentation.

The chiropractic adjustment is a specified, directional movement carried out with purpose and forethought. It is directed to improve the biomechanics of the involved articulations (joints). The effect of the chiropractic adjustment is to reduce insult to the neural and vascular components associated with the articular joint(s).

if this area is compromised, neurological and vascular dysfunction can induce somato-visceral effects.

PROFESSIONAL REFERRALS
As the chiropractic doctor has advanced in training, specialization has occurred in areas of examination and treatment procedures. This may necessitate professional referral in specialized cases to other Doctors of chiropractic.

In addition, Doctors of Chiropractic have routinely and historically utilized the diagnostic and treatment expertise of practitioners from all other recognized health care disciplines. These include, but are not limited to, doctors of medicine, osteopathy, podiatry, optometry, dentistry, and psychology.

A primary goal of the chiropractic profession is cooperation among all health professionals for the benefit of the patient.

TYPICAL NEW PATIENT PROCEDURE
For the new patient, a detailed case history is taken and a preliminary exam relative to the patient's chief complaint(s) is performed.

Appropriate physical, orthopedic, neurological and chiropractic evaluation is conducted. A chiropractic evaluation may vary from office to office. It may include postural evaluation, static and motion palpation, and/or muscle testing.

Radiographs (X-rays) of the area(s) of complaint are taken if history and exam warrant. Postural (upright) X-rays may be taken of the full spine to evaluate posture and spinal interrelationship with multiple spinal complaints. This procedure is primarily for chiropractic/biomechanical spinal assessment.

Initial treatment is often rendered on the first visit to reduce patient discomfort.

The patient is then scheduled for a report of findings with prescribed treatment recommendations and/or follow-up care.

TYPICAL OFFICE VISIT
During a typical office visit, the patient is questioned regarding subjective symptoms. A brief evaluation is performed to determine objective changes from the previous visit.

Appropriate treatment is then rendered with or without adjunctive modalities. Each treatment may vary according to the doctor's training, experience, and the needs of the patient.

CHIROPRACTIC EDUCATION
A. NATIONAL ACCREDITATION:
The Council On Chiropractic Education (CCE)
The professional accrediting agency for chiropractic colleges in the United States is the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE). The accrediting commission of the CCE is recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department of Education and is included on the department's list of nationally recognized accrediting agencies and associations.

B. PRE-PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
Admission requirements to an accredited chiropractic college are similar to those of other major health professions (i.e. medicine, osteopathy podiatry, optometry, etc.). These requirements include a minimum of two to three years of pre-professional college with emphasis in biological sciences. An example of pre-professional college study requirements are listed below.
COURSE SEMESTER HOURS
English or Communicative Skills 6
General Psychology 3
Mathematics 3
General Chemistry w/Lab 6
Biology w/Lab 6
Physical Ed or Elective 6
Organic Chemistry w/Lab4 6
Physics w/Lab 6
Humanities 3
Humanities (suggested) 3
Social Studies 3
Social Studies (suggested) 3
Electives 6
TOTAL 60

C. PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
Chiropractic colleges require a minimum of four to five academic years of professional resident study involving no less than 4800 hours. Professional study includes clinical experience under strict supervision by qualified faculty members in institutional clinics. A major part of chiropractic education is devoted to such basic science subjects as anatomy, biochemistry, microbiology, pathology, public health, diagnosis, X-ray, clinical disciplines and related health sciences closely paralleling that of medical education. The remaining years emphasize practical or clinical studies dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of patients. During this period, about half of the chiropractic student's time is spent in a clinic, examining and treating patients under close supervision. The following is an example of courses studied at a typical chiropractic college for matriculation 1987-88.

Anatomy
Myology 60 hours
Osteology 60 hours
Histology 36 hours
Embryology 60 hours
Spinal anatomy 60 hours
Splanchnology 60 hours
Genesiology/Angiology 60 hours
Central Nervous System 60 hours
Peripheral Nervous System 60 hours
Special Senses 36 hours
Arthrology 24 hours
Human Dissection 60 hours
Topographical Anatomy 60 hours

Practical Patient Care
Clinic I 60 hours
Emergency Procedures 60 hours
Clinic II 180 hours
Clinic III 180 hours
Clinic IV 180 hours
Jurisprudence 60 hours
Clinic V 180 hours
Research 120 hours

Diagnosis
Physical Diagnostic Methods 120 hours
Obstetrics/Gynecology 60 hours
Pediatrics 60 hours
Clinical Human Behavior 60 hours
Neuro-musculo-skeletal Exams/ Management 120 hours
Geriatrics/Dermatology 60 hours
Visceral Disorders 120 hours

Pathology
Microbiology 60 hours
General Pathology I 60 hours
Public Health 60 hours
General Pathology II 60 hours
Hematology' 60 hours
Neuro-musculo-skeletal I 60 hours
Cardiovascular/Pulmonary 60 hours
Gastrointestinal/Genitourinary 60 hours
Neuro-musculo-skeletal II 60 hours
Philosophy 180 hours

Physiology
General 48 hours
Cellular 60 hours
Cardiovascular/Pulmonary 60 hours
Endocrinology 60 hours
Digestion/Nutrition 60 hours
Renal 60 hours
Physiology Lib II 3 60 hours

Chemistry
Biochemistry I 60 hours
Biochemistry II 60 hours
Chemistry Lab 120 hours
Toxicology 60 hours

X-ray
Introduction 36 hours
X-ray Physics 60 hours
X-ray Positioning 60 hours
Diagnostic Radiology 120 hours
Pathology I 60 hours
Pathology II 60 hours

Psychology & Psychiatry

Technique
Biomechanics 60 hours
Palpation 24 hours
Specialized 60 hours
Cervical 120 hours
Thoracic 60 hours
Lumbar 60 hours
Pelvic 120 hours
Principles/Practice 60 hours

CHIROPRACTIC AND MEDICAL SCHOOL:
A COMPARISON
The basic difference between chiropractic school and medical school is that medical schools provide full instruction in surgery and pharmacology. Since chiropractors neither prescribe medicine nor perform surgery, chiropractic schools devote those hours to chiropractic principles and general and specific manipulative technique. Medical schools, as a rule, neither require nor offer courses on manipulation or manipulative therapy. The intensive courses required by chiropractic physicians in the doctoral phase of their education closely parallel those of medical school. In some cases, chiropractic schools require more hours of instruction in many basic science and medical courses including anatomy, physiology, radiology, rehabilitation, nutrition, and public health.

These Web Pages where constructed from various health and other publications on Nutrition. The sole purpose is to provide information and is not considered to be medical advice. No medical claims are being made by Dr. H. Edward Elrod, or The Elrod Clinic.

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