Understanding Chiropractic

Understanding Chiropractic

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. The manual treatment methods used by chiropractors range from stretching and sustained pressure to specific joint manipulations, which are usually delivered by hand and involve a quick and gentle thrust. The purpose of the manipulations is to improve joint motion and function. To practice in the United States, chiropractors must earn a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree, pass an exam, and have a state license. Health insurance plans may cover chiropractic, but coverage may be partial instead of complete. Learn more