| Chiropractic, also known
as chiropractic care, is a health care discipline that claims
to prevent and treat health problems by using spinal adjustments
in order to correct misalignments, or subluxations. Chiropractic
asserts that the brain and nervous system control and coordinate
all the body's functions in part through nerve branches that
exit from the spinal cord between the vertebrae and that slight
spinal misalignments are said to interfere with the function
of the nerve as it exits the verterbral foramina. Chiropractors
infer a causal relationship between nerve interference or compression
at the spine and subsequent problems in more distant parts or
organ systems regulated by the nerve.
Practitioners of chiropractic are called chiropractors or
chiropractic physicians. In the United States they receive
the degree Doctor of Chiropractic, (D.C.) and commonly refer
to themselves as doctor. Chiropractors are licensed in all
jurisdictions of the United States of America, in addition
to many other countries throughout the world.
There is some limited objective clinical data or peer-reviewed research
that demonstrates efficacy to certain chiropractic therapies.
Chiropractic claims to be effective in the treatment of back
and neck pain, headaches, and other symptoms that chiropractic
views of spine-related conditions (although some medical science
often disagrees with these assumption).
Chiropractors often enter chiropractic school with a Bachelor's degree, or with three years of post-secondary education in the sciences and other appropriate coursework. Chiropractic school, while superficially resembling medical school in the basic course work, lacks the rigor of medical school in its standards and composition of attendees,
as well as in curriculum. Coursework in Chiropractic school may include study in gross anatomy, biochemistry, embryology, microbiology, anatomy and physiology in the first half of formal schooling. The last half of formal education focusses on clinical patient care through clinical rounds in various settings. Graduates of chiropractic schools complete five years of schooling, and have passed four national board exams in order to complete their education. Upon graduation, chiropractors must sit for state exams to qualify for licensure. Continuing education is required each year, with 24-48 hours required annually.
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