Navigation:
- Are Chiropractors Doctors?
- How are Medical Doctors Different from Chiropractors?
- Medical Education and Training
- Treatment Techniques and Specialization
You’ll be surprised by the number of people who still ask “are chiropractors considered doctors?”
To be honest, it’s probably because the answer is not really that simple. It’s a yes and a no at the same time. So it’s really easy to get confused. And so we will try to answer this in the best way possible: by comparing chiropractors and doctors side by side. Let’s get started.
Are Chiropractors Doctors?
We can say that chiropractors are indeed doctors because they treat medical conditions. However, they are not technically medical doctors because they do not make use of conventional treatment methods.
Chiropractic care is an alternative treatment method, and so we can consider them similar to non-medical doctors in other allied health care professions. You can compare them to those who practice optometry, psychology, and dentistry.
Chiropractors do in fact have an academic degree called Doctor of Chiropractic, and it can only be obtained by studying chiropractic for four years and then taking a licensure exam. Before you can study chiropractic, you need a degree related to the sciences, so chiropractors in total require eight years of university training.
Chiropractors are licensed in all 50 states, but may only perform in the state where they got their license.
How are Medical Doctors Different from Chiropractors?
The key difference is that medical doctors are allowed to prescribe medication. Chiropractors are not always given that ability, except for a few states. Usually, chiropractors can only prescribe nutritional and homeopathic items.
In any case, chiropractors make use of natural healing through spinal adjustments and spinal manipulation. They restore the alignment of the spine using manual adjustment techniques, in order to optimize the body’s healing capabilities.
The spine affects the entire nervous system, and so it also affects the function of the musculoskeletal system. By putting it back into proper alignment, it could function properly.
Medical Education and Training
As previously mentioned, chiropractors obtain a degree called the Doctor of Chiropractic, also known as a DC. The World Health Organization lists other potential paths for pursuing this full time, including B.Sc (Chiro) and (M.Sc. Chiro) following a bachelor’s degree.
American physicians get the Doctor of Medicine degree (MD) or the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree (DO). Both degrees are awarded after four years of medical school. Candidates are required to take the MCAT or the Medical College Admission Test. Before graduating, students also take the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX) and/or the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Parts 1 and 2.
Treatment Techniques and Specialization
Chiropractors focus on the musculoskeletal system and the way the spine affects the entire body. They often manipulate the spine and the joints during treatments in order to relieve pain and restore range of motion.
The treatment is safe, non-invasive, and all-natural. Some would even call it holistic.
Medical physicians, on the other hand, specialize in various areas and treatments, depending on the type of disease and the patient’s age group. Pediatricians treat children, internists specialize in internal medicine for adults, and dermatologists treat disease and conditions related to the skin, etc.
Treatment includes diagnosing and prescribing drugs, surgical treatments, and other therapies.
There are clearly a lot of differences between chiropractors and medical doctors. You may want to visit the one that specializes in the condition you are dealing with. In some cases, patients seek treatment from both types of doctors in order to get the best results.
If you want to learn more about chiropractic treatment and its benefits, visit a chiropractic clinic near you today!
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