A Day in the Life of a Chiropractor

Knowing the philosophical or clinical concepts behind the treatment of the spine doesn’t exactly reveal what doctors of chiropractic do on a daily basis. The day-to-day practice of a chiropractor is surprisingly similar to that of other health professionals in small-office settings, though it does have some of its own unique elements.

Setting

Most doctors of chiropractic work in a small practice, with two doctors at the office on average. A little under half of all chiropractors are self-employed with their own practice, while less-experienced chiropractors may work under others at a group practice. A small number of chiropractic doctors work in clinics, hospitals, or in conjunction with acupuncturists or other types of health care providers. Chiropractic offices tend to be located in professional or business districts and are open normal hours, about 40 hours a week.

Seeing Patients

A patient’s visit to the chiropractor is quite similar to a visit to a physician’s office. If a nurse or other assistant is present, he or she may perform the intake with the patient, including a questionnaire of the patient’s medical and family history. Otherwise, the chiropractor performs this intake along with a routine physical exam. The chiropractor generally looks at the range of motion of areas of the body, the patient’s reflexes, muscle strength, and other diagnostic measures dealing with the patient’s particular complaint. The chiropractor then examines the spine and performs X-rays to assess the state of the bony structure and tissue of the back.

After examining the patient, the chiropractor develops a treatment plan to address the patient’s pain or medical problem. The chiropractor consults with the patient to determine their goals and what they hope to get out of the treatment, along with the general state of their health.

Making Adjustments

Adjustments are obviously an important part of most chiropractic treatment plans. Chiropractors adjust not only the spine, but other joints as well, such as the wrist, neck, knee, and ankle. While not always focused on relieving a specific ailment, these general joint adjustments can improve the function of the joints and overall daily health.

During adjustments to the back or neck, the chiropractor uses a combination of controlled force and leverage to manipulate the body. The direction and extent of these manipulations is crucial, and these adjustments are much more precise than just “cracking” the back. Treatment plans usually contain a series of adjustments, on a daily, biweekly, or weekly schedule, that continue over the span of several weeks.

Other Techniques

Chiropractic focuses not only on misalignments in the back, but also on other environmental factors that can be causing structural defects in the body. For example, orthotic shoes or recommendations for exercise can be two things prescribed by a chiropractor to remove stress from particular areas of the body. Nutrition, use of heat and ice, and physical therapy are other techniques utilized by chiropractors to restore function.

Sources:

What Happens at the Chiropractor? (2011) University of Minnesota.

Chiropractors. (2011) Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Back to top