Chiropractors are not doctors in the medical /pills/prostate examination sense.
They are doctors in their own sense.
They are qualified to diagnose and treat disorders of the neuro-musculoskeletal system... in the same sense that a dentist is qualified to diagnose and treat disorders of the teeth, gums and jaw.
The traditional way of doing dentistry was to identify painful little holes in teeth and then pull the whole tooth out.
In a far less invasive but similarly basic sense the traditional way of doing chiropractic was to sniff out locked spinal bones - and manipulate them back to full mobility.
Both the dental profession and chiropractors have evolved somewhat since their more simplistic and 1 dimensional beginnings.
Chiropractors now embrace a broad 'scope of practice' which includes the management of a broad range of complaints and techniques.
Some chiropractors’ practices consist of as little as 25% pure chiropractic technique and complaints.
The rest of what they do is a broad and flexible approach to pain management that merges chiropractic tools with techniques most people would associate with physiotherapy, acupuncture, fitness coaching and osteopathy. This includes managing a million sprained ankles.
No.3 Chiropractic Isn't Neck Cracking
Most healing professions start off with a fairly basic methodology or tool and expand their scope over time.
If you took a peek at what surgeons were doing in Victorian times and then compared it what they can do now you would most likely be a little shocked and amazed.
When surgeons founded their profession they were essentially in the business of cutting peoples legs and arms off with no anaesthetic and no hand or knife washing between patients.
In far less horrifying but similar terms chiropractors started off with some simple procedures and have expanded their scope of practice over time.
The original chiropractic intervention was the mobilisation of a spinal bone which gave an audible pop as it released.
But chiropractic is a profession not a procedure - spinal manipulation is something that chiropractors sometimes do.
Chiropractic is a set of principles, theories and beliefs about pain and the spine which has given rise to many different techniques and tools.
