Chiropractic is a form of alternative medicine used to treat musculoskeletal problems. Although chiropractic is an alternative medicine, chiropractors must have a college degree and have a good education. Chiropractic is an approach in healthcare that seeks to relieve pain by manipulating the spine. It is most commonly used for back or neck pain and sometimes for headaches or pain in the arms or legs.
While spinal manipulation — the most feared technique in chiropractic — is a main treatment method, there are several methods a chiropractor can use to relieve pain and pressure. Chiropractors see themselves as specialists in neuromusculoskeletal diseases, many also regard chiropractic as a type of primary care. Chiropractic is a licensed health profession that emphasizes the body’s ability to heal itself. All states in the United States require chiropractors to obtain a doctor of chiropractic from a college accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE).
In many cases, chiropractic has worked for patients who have not had success with traditional methods and were ultimately able to alleviate their back pain through various chiropractic techniques that are not used in traditional medicine. Once ridiculed by the mainstream medical community, chiropractic has become a recognized and highly respected area of health care. The percentage of the population that uses chiropractic care at any given time is generally in the range of 6% to 12% in the United States. Both physical therapy, also known as physical therapy, and chiropractic care focus on treating pain and other symptoms using non-invasive techniques.
