Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, and the effects of these disorders on an individual’s overall health. Most often used to treat neuromusculoskeletal conditions, chiropractic care usually focuses on--but is not limited to--back and neck pain, as well as pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches (American Chiropractic Association [ACA], 2015).
Chiropractic is the third largest independent health profession in the Western world, following conventional (allopathic) medicine and dentistry. Chiropractic has evolved and matured toward mainstream status in the United States with an increasingly strong scientific base and insurance coverage. There are approximately 65,000 chiropractors in the United States and 90,000 in the world. Chiropractic providers are considered “portal of entry” providers and are licensed to both diagnose and treat clients. Chiropractic practice is limited not only by anatomical regions (like dentistry or podiatry) but by procedures as well. Chiropractors cannot perform surgery or prescribe pharmaceuticals (Redwood, 2015).
Chiropractors use hands-on spinal manipulation and other alternative treatments. The practice is based on the theory that proper alignment of the body’s musculoskeletal structure, especially the spine, enables the body to heal itself without surgery or medication (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health [NCCIH], 2012; U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2014).
The World Health Organization [WHO] (2005) defines chiropractic as a health care profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system and the effects of these disorders on general health. There is an emphasis on manual techniques, including joint adjustment and/or manipulation, with a particular focus on the subluxation.