The Association Of Chiropractic Colleges Position Paper #1

Chiropractic Definition

Chiropractic is a health care discipline which emphasizes the inherent recuperative power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery. The practice of chiropractic focuses on the relationship between structure (primarily the spine) and function ( as coordinated by the nervous system) and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health. In addition, Doctors of Chiropractic recognize the value and responsibility of working in cooperation with other health care practitioners when in the best interest of the patient.

In the State of Connecticut, the practice of chiropractic means the practice of that branch of the healing arts consisting of the science of adjustment, manipulation and treatment of the human body in which vertebral subluxations and other malpositioned articulations and structures that may interfere with the normal generation, transmission and expression of nerve impulse between the brain, organs and tissue cells of the body, which may be a cause of disease, are adjusted, manipulated or treated.

The terms "chiropractic," "doctor of chiropractic," "chiropractor," and "chiropractic physician" are synonymous, and mean a practitioner of chiropractic.

Chiropractic Practice And Procedures

Your chiropractic doctor will examine, diagnose and treat your condition. Your doctor uses standard examination procedures to diagnose your condition. After a thorough examination and appropriate testing, a treatment plan is recommended.

Doctors of chiropractic use the same time-honored methods of consultation, case history, physical examination, laboratory analysis, and the latest technical diagnostic equipment, including X-ray, MRI, and CT scan examination. In addition, a careful structural examination with emphasis on the spine, is conducted. Naturally, if your condition does not fall under the scope of chiropractic treatment, your chiropractor will refer you to the appropriate medical professional. Along with this principle of referring to other practitioners, it is expected that other practitioners of the healing arts are knowledgeable on chiropractic practice and would readily refer patients for chiropractic care.

Your chiropractic physician will explain your condition to you and outline a course of treatment, often including a combination of office visits, spinal and/or extremity joint adjustments or manipulation, nutritional counseling, exercise therapy, guidance of activities of daily living, and proactive mental support designed specifically to expedite your effective recovery.

The Subluxation

Chiropractic is concerned with the preservation and restoration of health, and focuses particular attention on the subluxation. A subluxation is a complex of functional and/or structural and/or pathological particular changes that compromise neural integrity and may influence organ system function and general health. A subluxation is evaluated, diagnosed, and managed through the use of chiropractic procedures based on the best available rational and empirical evidence.

The Chiropractic Paradigm

Purpose: The purpose of chiropractic is to optimize health. Principle: The body’s innate recuperative power is affected by and integrated through the nervous system.

Practice: The practice of chiropractic includes: Establishing a diagnosis, facilitating neurological and biomechanical integrity through appropriate chiropractic case management, and promoting health.

Foundation The foundation of chiropractic includes philosophy, science, art, knowledge, and clinical experience.

Impacts The chiropractic paradigm directly influences education, research, health care policy and leadership, relationships with other health care providers, professional stature, public awareness and perceptions, and patient health through quality care