Every week I will answer a question or series of questions about chiropractic.
This weeks question comes from M.G.
What type of education and training do chiropractors have?
Doctors of chiropractic are trained as primary contact providers and are trained specifically to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal conditions. This comprises muscles, ligaments, and joints of the spine and extremities as well as the nerves that supply them. Doctors of chiropractic must complete 4 years of pre-medical undergraduate course work prior to entrance into a chiropractic program. Required courses include biology, inorganic and organic chemistry, physics, psychology, and lab studies related to the aforementioned classes. The coursework within an accredited chiropractic program consists of 4 to 5 academic years of professional study. This coursework includes human anatomy, spinal anatomy, physiology, cell biology, neurology, biochemistry, organ histology, immunology, pathology, nutrition, orthopedics, and clinical diagnosis among others. In addition to class coursework, a significant amount of time is spent on chiropractic adjusting techniques. These hands-on courses address the entirety of the spine as well as all extremities. In total, the chiropractic curriculum is comprised of a minimum of 4,200 classroom, laboratory, and clinical hours and is accredited by the U.S. Department of Education.
– Dr. Kyle McKenzie, DC
