Chiropractic care seeks to provide healing from the inside out through non-invasive methods and procedures by focusing on the relationship between the body’s structure and its function.
Chiropractors use manual therapies, like spinal manipulation and other supplemental treatments, to reduce pain and inflammation throughout the body and restore proper movement of the joints. Additionally, chiropractic care seeks to use only what the body possesses to heal and improve one’s overall health.
For these reasons, chiropractic care is a holistic approach to wellness and is often integrated with other methods of care. Below, we’ll define chiropractic care, how it is implemented with holistic health, and explain how to pursue this holistic approach to wellness as a career.
What is Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractic care focuses on the musculoskeletal and nervous systems to diagnose and treat mechanical disorders of the spine and joints.
Chiropractors, the licensed practitioners who diagnose and treat these conditions, administer treatment through hands-on, holistic methods like water and heat therapy, physical supports, acupuncture (if licensed), ultrasound, and manual spinal adjustments.
Unlike many other healthcare professionals, they do not prescribe medications or perform surgery. Instead, chiropractors utilize noninvasive and drug-free treatments to promote healing.
Other duties and responsibilities involved in chiropractic care include:
- Performing physical exams and evaluating a patient’s spine, posture, and reflexes
- Taking and analyzing patient X-rays
- Performing neuromusculoskeletal therapy and manipulation
- Counseling patients on nutrition, exercise, and healthcare
Chiropractic Care and Holistic Health
Holistic health is the medical approach and belief that considers the entire person—body, mind, and spirit—to promote and achieve optimal health and wellness.
Rather than focus on one ailment or body system, holistic health practitioners aim to treat the root of the problem, as focusing solely on the symptoms or disease can limit possible healing. Furthermore, each individual actively participates in their health decisions and healing processes.
Thus, it’s no surprise that chiropractic care aims to provide healing from the inside out and is a holistic health approach. It is also often integrated into other care and treatment methods, such as yoga, massage, and even guided imagery.
Chiropractors often collaborate with patients, primary care practitioners, physical therapists, and neurosurgeons to ensure holistic treatment and total body healing. Through these partnerships, patients stay informed and supported on how to use this powerful form of healing to achieve a stronger body, improved health, and a superior overall feeling of wellness.
Interested in promoting wellness on a higher level? Check out our dual degree program in Chiropractic and Nutrition!
Becoming a Chiropractor
Though they do not write prescriptions, chiropractors are doctors of chiropractic medicine and are considered physicians. Instead of going through medical school and earning a Medical Doctor (MD) degree, chiropractors must earn a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree before they can practice.
After completing a science-focused bachelor’s degree program, aspiring chiropractic candidates will typically enroll in an accredited Doctor of Chiropractic program. That said, many Chiropractic programs only require students to have ninety undergraduate credits to register.
Once enrolled in a program, students spend four years learning how to use holistic, evidence-based methods to rehabilitate the human body and reduce patient discomfort. They do so by combining hands-on clinical training opportunities with Chiropractic courses in:
- Physiology
- Anatomy
- Neuroanatomy
- Biomechanics
- Pathology
- Metabolism and Nutrition
- Pharmacology
Upon completion of the coursework and after graduation, chiropractors must pass the rigorous National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) Exam to attain licensure.
The training does not stop there, however, as chiropractors must also maintain a high level of proficiency and training to stay informed of the latest research and methods in their field. Not to mention that some chiropractors pursue additional licenses and certifications to specialize in a specific area, like sports medicine.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), chiropractors make a median annual salary of $75,000, with the highest ten percent earning more than $128,750. Their employment growth rate is also projected to grow ten percent by 2031, faster than the average for all occupations.
Chiropractors are in high demand and essential to a patient’s healthcare team, especially as more people seek drug-free, all-encompassing, holistic forms of care and treatment.
The Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) Degree Program at University of Bridgeport
University of Bridgeport’s School of Chiropractic (UBSC), founded in 1991, was the US’s first university-based Doctor of Chiropractic program. Since then, we have led chiropractic students through hands-on clinical experiences and into meaningful careers in patient care.
Our expert faculty of experienced healthcare professionals and eight-to-one student-to-faculty ratio ensures the attention and instruction students need to succeed in the program and their careers. We admit students twice yearly and operate on a flexible, eighteen-week semester-based schedule.
Chiropractic school admission requirements include:
- Bachelor’s degree or a minimum of ninety credits, with twenty-four of those credits being in the physical/life sciences with a C or better
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Application
- Official transcripts from all schools previously attended
- One letter of recommendation from a healthcare practitioner
- 250-500 word personal statement
Applications are due by July 15 for the fall semester and December 1st for the spring semester.
If you are passionate about helping others achieve total mind, body, and spirit wellness through the holistic chiropractic approach, apply to University of Bridgeport’s Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) program.
Don’t wait. Start your future today!