What is Chiropractic?

September 14, 2020

By Dr. Chris Weilandich, DC, LAT

Since beginning my studies in the field of chiropractic I have noticed that the vast majority of people do not know just how big chiropractic is and what all it covers. Many have asked me “What is chiropractic?” So I decided to do some digging and see how others in the field answer this question. These are a few of the main organizations within the field of chiropractic: 

The American Chiropractic Association says:

“Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic services are used most often to treat common musculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches.
Through their whole-person, patient-centered approach, doctors of chiropractic (DCs) elevate the health and wellness of their communities by helping people of all ages live more fully and actively.”

The Association of Chiropractic Colleges says:

“Chiropractic focuses on the relationship between the body’s main structures – the skeleton, the muscles and the nerves – and the patient’s health. Chiropractors believe that health can be improved and preserved by making adjustments to these structures, particularly to the spinal column. They do not prescribe drugs or perform surgical procedures, although they do refer patients for these services if they are medically indicated.”

The National Center for Complementary and Integrated Health says:

“Chiropractic is a licensed health care profession that emphasizes the body’s ability to heal itself. Treatment typically involves manual therapy, often including spinal manipulation. Other forms of treatment, such as exercise and nutritional counseling, may be used as well.”

There are some variations in the definitions, but the main takeaway is that chiropractors are primary healthcare physicians that specialize in managing and treating the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system. 

However, I would like to add to this definition. You see, unlike medical doctors or doctors of osteopathy, chiropractors look at the body as a whole. They look at all systems in the body working as one and the way they interact with and help each other. Chiropractic is not limited to only the musculoskeletal and/or nervous system. There are many sub-specialties within chiropractic that focus on internal disorders (Chiropractic Internists), sports (Chiropractic Sports Physician), occupational health (Chiropractic Occupational Health), rehabilitation (Chiropractic Rehabilitation Specialist), and so many more that I will be posting about in the future. 

With all these different specialties in the field of chiropractic, it can be difficult to give a simple definition of what chiropractic is. Therefore, the way I tend to describe chiropractic is this: 

Chiropractic is a healthcare profession that emphasizes the body as a whole and the body’s natural innate ability to heal itself without the use of drugs or surgeries. It affirms the philosophy that all parts and systems of the body working together is greater than the sum of the parts. Through the use of natural remedies including but not limited to nutrition, adjustments/manipulations, rehabilitative and therapeutic exercise, therapeutic modalities, and life counseling; chiropractor physicians facilitate the body’s natural ability to heal itself and promote overall health and well being.