Back To Top
Menu

What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractor's hands working on a patient during an adjustment

Chiropractic is a healthcare profession focusing on disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems.

Doctors of Chiropractic are referred to as chiropractors or chiropractic physicians.

Chiropractic care primarily treats neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including:

  • back pain
  • neck pain
  • pain in joints, arms, legs
  • headaches

Chiropractic care involves a complete patient history, examination, diagnosis and treatment. Chiropractors have broad diagnostic skills and are trained to provide therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as well as nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling.

The primary treatment modality utilized by doctors of chiropractic is the adjustment and manipulation of the spine and articulations of the body. They are also skilled in soft tissue treatment therapies. 

History

Chiropractic developed as a defined profession in the late 1800's in the United States. It has since spread throughout the world and is recognized and regulated by law in approximately 40 countries.

The profession has evolved to be a cost-effective, efficient healthcare profession that deals primarily with neuromusculoskeletal issues. There is evidence that shows that chiropractic is extremely effective for managing low back and neck pain through conservative non-surgical methods.

Numerous articles have been published in international, peer-reviewed journals, demonstrating the efficacy and cost effectiveness of chiropractic care for a variety of conditions.

Research Studies on Chiropractic

The Chiropractic Hospital-based Interventions Research Outcomes (CHIRO) Study: a randomized controlled trial on the effectiveness of clinical practice guidelines in the medical and chiropractic management of patients with acute mechanical low back pain.

Comparing the Satisfaction of Low Back Pain Patients Randomized to Receive Medical or Chiropractic Care: Results From the UCLA Low-Back Pain Study

Cost effectiveness of physiotherapy, manual therapy, and general practitioner care for neck pain: economic evaluation alongside a randomized controlled trial Commentary: Bootstrapping simplifies appreciation of statistical inferences

A Comparison of Osteopathic Spinal Manipulation with Standard Care for Patients with Low Back Pain

Cost of Care for Common Back Pain Conditions Initiated with Chiropractic Doctor VS Medical Doctor, Doctor of Osteopathy as First Physician: Experience of One Tennessee-Based General Health Insurer (PDF)

Cost-Effectiveness of Medical and Chiropractic Care for Acute and Chronic Low Back Pain

Early Predictors of Lumbar Spine Surgery after Occupational Back injury - Results from a prospective study of workers in Washington State

Neurophysiology of Spinal Manipulation

Patient Characteristics, Practice Activities, and One-Month Outcomes for Chronic, Recurrent Low-Back Pain Treated by Chiropractors and Family Medicine Physicians A Practice-Based Feasibility Study

Spinal Manipulation, Medication, or Home Exercise With Advice for Acute and Subacute Neck Pain

Chiropractic: A Profession at the Crossroads of Mainstream and Alternative Medicine

Resources