Who is a chiropractor? How to become a chiropractor? And what about the chiropractor salary range? To get your answers on these queries, read this article…
Chiropractic is basically a discipline of complementary and alternative medicine. This therapeutic approach focuses on the identification of musculoskeletal system problems and their holistic treatment, especially those related to the spinal column. According to chiropractic philosophy, any abnormality in the muscle or joint negatively affects the nervous system, thereby disturbing the overall health of an individual. More information on who a chiropractor is, his job description, and average salary of the same is highlighted in the coming paragraphs.
Who a Chiropractor Is
An individual who specializes in chiropractic care for treatment purposes is referred to as a chiropractor. In contrary to medication treatment, a qualified chiropractor focuses on manipulating the musculoskeletal system and alike bodily structures to relieve back pain, headache, general body pain, and similar medical problems. The professional primarily uses manual therapy for alleviation of muscular, joint, and nervous disorders. No medication or surgical procedure is involved in chiropractic health care.
There is no patient specification for a chiropractor, which is unlike other medical specializations like the cardiac specialist or dentist. In short, a professional in this field emphasizes on the health problems of an arthritic patient, heart disease patient, or a road accident patient. With the increased popularity of alternative medicine and holistic treatment, chiropractic philosophy is gaining a lot of attention in recent years. Patients who experience chronic joint pain, neck pain, and back pain are opting for this treatment method, instead of ingesting strong pain medications that cause long-term side effects.
Job description of a Chiropractor
The foundation of chiropractic health care is to adjust the muscular and skeletal system, so as to maintain normal functioning of the nervous system. Part of the chiropractor’s job description involves physical examination of the patients, taking medical history, and gathering their general health information. Very often, X-ray images are suggested to rule out the patients’ problems. If required, blood tests, urine test, and stool analysis are conducted for correct diagnosis. Based on the diagnostic test results, the professional will figure out the underlying cause.
After identification of the problem, the chiropractor starts with manual therapy and physical therapy sessions suited for the patient. Other than hand treatment, a patient is given guidelines for making dietary modifications, lifestyle changes, and following stress management techniques to stay healthy. It is also quite possible that a chiropractor suggests reference doctors for complete treatment of a medical condition. In addition to practicing chiropractic, a professional specialized in this branch may apply for other job openings related to the field, like teaching and taking up research projects.
How to Become a Chiropractor?
The basic chiropractor education requirements are a 4-year bachelor degree or a 2-year undergraduate degree in a related field. After gaining the degree, he/she should enroll in a professional degree program (for 4 years) in an accredited chiropractic college. In the training program, basic science and medicine are taught in the first two years. After that, techniques for detecting pressure points, massaging, palpation, and joint adjustments are highlighted to students. Lastly, for practicing as a chiropractor physician, a prospective candidate should clear the state or national licensing exam.
Coming to the salary range, the annual income for a median chiropractor averages USD 67,650, while a highly experienced professional earns more than USD 150,000 per year. Today, it is listed as the third largest medicine branch, next to dental medicine. And a licensed chiropractor will treat patients of all age groups, who complain of body pain. What’s more, the job prospect of a chiropractor is very good in the years to come.