Is a Chiropractor a Real Doctor?

Misunderstoodeducational background beginning with three years of
A chiropractic doctor is probably one of the mostpre-chiropractic study. From there they advance into a
misunderstood healthcare practitioners in the medicalfour-year course of study. A student of chiropractic
profession. Through the years they have been lookedspends as many hours in the study of human
at askance by doubters who are full of suspicion. Inphysiology as that of a medical doctor. Chiropractic
times past, they have been called quacks, or worse.programs require a minimum of 4,200 hours of
This is due, in part, to the public's narrow and limitedcombined classroom, laboratory, and clinical experience.
view of medical treatment - being that solely ofThe difference between the education of an MD and
administering prescription drugs and performingthat of a chiropractor lies in the fact that an MD trains
surgery.in pharmacology and surgical procedures and
It's unfortunate that the majority of people believe thischiropractor trains in the care of the spine.
is all there is to health care. There truth is there is moreWorth the Cost?
to health care than drugs and surgery! A great dealSome will assert that it costs too much to go to the
more!chiropractor. However, the opposite is true. The fact is
Sad to say, but even some chiropractic patientsthat oftentimes when a person is treated by a
haven't a real clear understanding of what chiropracticchiropractic doctor for one certain symptom, the
is. And for those who have never been to aadjustments (treatments) result in a higher level of
chiropractor, most are totally misinformed as to theoverall health and well being. This leads to cutting back
make up of the profession. The fact is chiropractic ison prescription drugs, preventing the need for surgery,
the largest drug-free form of health care and the thirdand slowing down the aging process.
largest form of any health care in North America.Those who benefit from chiropractic treatments look
What is Chiropractic?at it as an important part of their ongoing health
The word "chiropractic" is a blending of the Greekmaintenance, similar to that of regular exercise or
words cheir (hand) and praxis (action) and meansvisiting their local health spa. They now know the
"done by hand." Chiropractic is an alternative medicaldifference - how they felt before chiropractic
system in that the practitioner takes a differenttreatments and how much better they feel now.
approach from conventional medicine in diagnosing,A survey of patients of chiropractors in an
classifying, and treating medical problems.independent physicians' association found that, when
Essentially, chiropractic focuses on the relationshipasked if they would recommend their Doctor of
between the body's structure - primarily that of theChiropractic to others, 95.5% of the patients said "yes."
spine - and the body's function. Doctors of chiropractic1
use hands-on therapy called manipulation (orA chiropractor is a whole health practitioner who is
adjustment) as their core procedure.concerned not just about your symptoms, but your
Comparable to an MD?overall state of well being. What your doctor of
So is the training of a chiropractor as rigorous as thatchiropractic can offer, no other doctor can. Have no
of a medical doctor? The answer is a resounding, yes.doubt that a chiropractor is well trained to assist you
Today's doctor of chiropractic receives an extensivereach your own personal optimal health.