CAM 101: An Introduction to Contemporary

and Alternative Medicine

Lesson Two: Chiropractic
Lesson Overview
In this lesson, you will get an overview of the practice of chiropractic.
By the end of the lesson, you will have a better understanding of what
chiropractic is, as well as what this practice entails. You will also have the
opportunity to observe and participate in a chiropractic treatment.
Lesson
What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is the third largest health profession in the Western world,
following allopathic medicine and dentistry. Chiropractic care offers a drug
free treatment option, and includes a hands-on approach. It has a primary
focus on issues with the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system. A
chiropractic manipulation, or adjustment, is used to improve mobility and
function, with the ultimate goal of relieving pain. It does this by relieving
pressure on the joints, which in turn will relax the muscles surrounding those
joints, lessening pain and tension (Chiropractic: Topic Overview, 2014).
Chiropractic treatments do not always involve a manipulation. Many times,
treatment consists of soft tissue treatments only.
License or certification needed
one must have completed 90 semester hours of undergraduate
education (equivalent to three years of study), with at least a 3.0 on a
4.0 scale GPA in enter any graduate chiropractic program. Of those 90
hours, 24 must have been completed in life and physical sciences.
credits must also have been obtained within five years of admission
(these are all the same for all chiropractic programs) (Requirements,
2014).
curriculum includes at least 4200 hours of classroom, laboratory, and
clinical education; this is equivalent to four to five years of education.
must complete a minimum of one year of patient care in a clinical
setting (Education Requirements, 2014).
to become a licensed chiropractor:
must first have graduated from an accredited institution.
must pass a set of four boards, administered by the National Board of
Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE). All states require all parts to be
satisfactorily passed, except Illinois, where they only need the first
three. All states also have additional testing required to obtain a
license, some even require passing a Jurisprudence exam, which
1

demonstrates the applicants knowledge of the law pertaining to

medicine within that state. Each state has specific requirements for
continuing education credits as well (Chiropractic in the United States:
Training, Practice, and Research , 2014).
What is the scope of practice?
The scope of practice encompasses manipulation or manual adjustment of
the spine, and excludes the prescribing of medication or surgery (Micozzi,
2010). The treatment includes examination, diagnosis, and treatment.
Chiropractors are well trained in diagnostic skills, and will recommend
rehabilitative exercises, as well as giving nutritional and lifestyle counseling
(What is Chiropractic?, 2014). Some of the additional treatments employed
by chiropractors include: heat, ultrasound, biofeedback, electrical
stimulation, ice, braces, strength and conditioning exercises, and relaxation
exercises. Many chiropractors will use x-rays for diagnostic purposes as well
(Chiropractic: Topic Overview, 2014)
Why Chiropractic? What are the benefits?
Numerous studies have shown that chiropractic is both safe and effective.
Chiropractic care is usually sought after for, but not limited to, issues
including: back pain, neck pain, headaches, and joint pain (What is
Chiropractic?, 2014). It offers a drug free treatment option, which many
people find comforting. Chiropractors will refer a patient to the correct type
of provider, whether it be an allopathic physician or physical therapist, when
they feel that they cannot help them, or they feel that they can work in
conjunction with the healthcare provider to provide the best care for their
condition (What is Chiropractic?, 2014). This gives the patient peace of
mind.
Questions?
Activity
Two chiropractors, Dr. Rene Martin and Dr. Erica Callahan, from the local
community, will be our guests for this week. At this point, they will give free
treatments to anyone who would like to participate. If you do not want to get
a treatment, you can observe while others get one. Either way, you will learn
a lot about how chiropractors work.

Works Cited
Chiropractic in the United States: Training, Practice, and Research . (2014).
Retrieved Jun 14, 2014, from Chiro Base Web Site:
http://www.chirobase.org/05RB/AHCPR/05.html
Chiropractic A Brief Overview, Part I . (2013). Retrieved Jun 13, 2014, from
Science Based Medicine Web Site:
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/chiropractic-a-brief-overview-part-i/
Chiropractic: Topic Overview. (2014). Retrieved 2015, from WebMD web site:
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/chiropractic-topic-overview
Education Requirements. (2014). Retrieved Jun 12, 2014, from American
Chiropractic Association Web Site: http://www.acatoday.org/content_css.cfm?
CID=746
Micozzi, M. S. (2010). Fundamentals of Complementary and Alternative
Medicine (4th ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences.
Requirements. (2014). Retrieved Jun 13, 2014, from New York Chiropractic
College Web Site: http://www.nycc.edu/Admissions_requirements.htm
What is Chiropractic? (2014, Jun 10). Retrieved 2015, from American
Chiropractic Association: http://www.acatoday.org/level2_css.cfm?
T1ID=13&T2ID=61