Occupational Descriptions

The following are just a few of the duties and responsibilities of the doctor of chiropractic:

• May be designated Doctor of Chiropractic, Chiropractic Physician, or chiropractor; and may be involved in solo, partnership, group or corporate practice, or be employed by one or more licensed practitioners.
• Conducts a systematic physical, neurologic, and orthopedic examination using the methods, techniques, and instruments standard with all health professions, including a postural and spinal analysis unique to chiropractic diagnosis.
• Corrects, reduces, mobilizes, or immobilizes articular abnormalities, particularly of the spine and pelvis, to normalize structural and functional relationships and relieve attendant neurologic, muscular and vascular disturbances - without prescription drugs or surgery.
• Provides professional counseling in areas such as dietary habits, physical and attitudes affecting health, personal sanitation, occupational safety, posture, rest, work rehabilitative exercise and recreational activities, health habits, and adaptive lifestyles.
• May limit practice to a specialized area of interest, such as orthopedics or diagnostic roentgenology and attain diplomate status through certified postgraduate and evaluation.
• Serves as a portal of entry into the health care system, being concerned with human health and disease processes, giving special attention to spinal mechanics and neurologic, muscular and vascular relationships.
• May plan and conduct lectures and training programs on health care related subjects for chiropractic staff, students, patients, community groups, and industrial plants, as well as assist in teaching, training and evaluation of chiropractic externs and teach in educational institutions.
• Performs or prescribes patient tests, measurements, and evaluations of health status, impairment, and disabilities in establishing or revising treatment programs and preventive programs.

For more information about chiropractic as a career, please visit the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.