Chiropractic Schools, Then and Now
What a difference a day makes...or in the case of chiropractics, more than a century. Chiropractic schools have gone through an evolutionary process beginning with their founder Daniel David Palmer, who in 1897 founded the Palmer School of Chiropractic. Because chiropractic care was very controversial at the time, many practicing chiropractors were actually prosecuted for practicing medicine without a license.
Back then (and still today) a chiropractic education was based much on Palmer's research of medical journals. Palmer wanted to discover the root of all disease. It was through his desire and work that he theorized that 95 percent of all disease is caused by a subluxated vertebra.
At that time, chiropractic was often confused with medicine. Authorities finally acknowledged chiropractic as a separate profession to that of medicine. And Palmer's chiropractic school flourished. Since that time, the social climate has evolved into an even higher approval of the field.
One of the first known cases of chiropractic treatment Palmer administered was on a deaf man who had injured his back nearly two decades in the past. Making an adjustment to his vertebra, Palmer successfully restored the man's hearing! Thus began the chiropractic school of thought.
Palmer's son and apprentice integrated X-rays into the practice of chiropractic to distinguish the differences between traditional medicine and chiropractic. By using X-rays, chiropractic schools today can enable practicing chiropractors to identify bone disease and to demonstrate the anatomy to productively administer precision adjustments to the spine. Oftentimes, general chiropractic studies will include some forms of massage and massage therapy, or even acupuncture.
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Chiropractic is still not always accepted as an effective treatment in today's mainstream medicine. Chiropractic schools aim to change that mode of thinking. While independent trials and other research demonstrate chiropractic to be as good, if not better, than traditional medicine, radiologists commonly deny the proof of "subluxations." This issue proves to be equally as difficult for chiropractor researchers to effectively convince other medical professionals. More recently, in 1996, the General Medical Council and the Royal College of General Practitioners in the UK offered their advocacy to chiropractic specifically for back conditions.
Rich in history, chiropractic schools today instruct students in not only the elementary roots of chiropractic, but the art of chiropractic treatment. Because all U.S. states and the District of Columbia regulate the practice of chiropractic and grant licenses to chiropractors who meet the education and examination requirement established by the state, students who desire a career in chiropractic should carefully examine chiropractic schools for curriculum and requirements.
Palmer's chiropractic school, which was established in the late 1800s, has definitely branched out into several regions. Today, students can opt to attend numerous accredited chiropractic schools and programs in the United States. In most cases, students who wish to attend a chiropractic school are required to have a minimum of 90 semester hours of undergraduate studies in biology, English, chemistry, psychology, and physics prior to enrollment. The future chiropractor will gain clinical experience in geriatrics, nutrition, orthopedics, neurology, laboratory and physical diagnosis, and several other associated studies. Successful graduates who have met all educational requirements will be granted a Doctor of Chiropractic Degree.
Those who have completed their chiropractic education can go on to rewarding careers where they may earn as much as $118,000 annually.
To learn more about Chiropractic Schools and additional learning programs, we invite you to visit our Natural Healing Directory to find more in-depth information and resources.
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