What are careers in chiropractic?

Chiropractors, athletic trainers, and physical therapists are careers in chiropractic medicine. Chiropractic is a healthcare profession that cares for a patient's neuromusculoskeletal system:

• Bones

• Nerves

• Muscles

• Tendons

• ligaments

A chiropractor helps manage back and neck pain through the use of spinal adjustments to maintain good alignment. Chiropractors will examine a patient and look at the spine's position and muscle reflexes. They also perform tests and take x-rays to diagnose a condition.

A chiropractor will then come up with a treatment plan and monitor progress.

Chiropractors do not prescribe pain medication. Instead, they rely on and assist the body's ability to heal itself. A chiropractor's primary therapy is spinal manipulation where they use their hands or other instruments to apply force to a joint in the spine.

In addition to spinal manipulation, chiropractors may include other treatments such as:

• Relaxation

• Stimulation

• Hot and cold treatment

• Exercise

• Diet and weight loss counseling

Athletic trainers care for athletes with serious sports injuries and conditions such as heart illness, cardiac events, and brain or spinal cord injuries. They specialize in the management, prevention, and recovery of injured athletes and, many times, are the first medical professionals on the scene after an injury.

Athletic trainers collaborate with doctors to provide emergency and follow-up care and develop injury prevention and treatment programs for injured athletes. On a typical day their roles and responsibilities can include:

• Providing athletic training services

• Applying tape, bandages, and braces to protect or prevent injuries

• Evaluating injuries and providing first aid

• Implementing rehabilitation programs for injured athletes

• Developing injury prevention programs

• Performing administrative tasks such as writing reports

Athletic trainers usually work in collaboration with other allied health professionals and they function as integral members of the healthcare team. They may work with patients of all ages and skill ranges.

A physical therapist is someone who diagnoses and treats people who have injuries, medical problems, or other health-related conditions that limit their ability to function and move properly in their daily lives. They work with patients of all ages and levels of injury or restriction.

Physical therapists develop a recovery plan designed for each patient's specific needs and provide treatment and therapy that will improve movement and manage pain. They are often an important part of an individual's rehabilitation and treatment protocol. They take one leadership role in prevention, health maintenance, and rehabilitation.

They are involved with programs that promote health, wellness, and fitness. With their specialized training, they can treat a variety of health conditions such as arthritis, back and neck pain, joint injuries, cerebral palsy, fibromyalgia, balance issues, cystic fibrosis, muscle strains, osteoporosis, and sports injuries.