What are the Career Prospects of a Chiropractor?

The practice of Chiropractors is projected to grow more than 20% in the next 10 years which is faster than the growth rate of all other occupations. This article focuses on the work and the career prospects of Chiropractors professionally.

Chiropractors are professionals who work with patients who have health problems regarding the neuromusculoskeletal system which includes some of the important parts of the human body like that of bones, ligaments, nerves, muscles, spinal cord and tendons. Some of the techniques they use in treatment are related to spinal adjustments and manipulation, and a host of other techniques like clinical interventions in order to manage mainly neck and back pain of patients. 

Education of Chiropractor

Chiropractic educational degree and training can be obtained by completing the Doctor of Chiropractic degree and obtain a license to practice. The doctor of Chiropractor can be applied to only after obtaining an undergraduate degree in main science for a minimum of 3 years from any recognized college.  The doctor of Chiropractor extends up to 4 years. It is a post-graduation degree which requires a 90 semester hours of undergraduate education and in some cases even bachelors degree for admission in the Doctor of Chiropractor program. Even though most of the students who have completed their Bachelor’s degree in science such as physics, biology, and chemistry or liberal arts apply for the Chiropractic programs.

The program of Doctor in Chiropractor involves the study of physiology, biology, human anatomy and similar subjects related to the human body. The students get training in highly supervised clinical setups where they learn about adjustment techniques, spinal assessment of the patients. The theoretical classwork also includes classes in business management in finance and billing systems. Most of the institutes which teaches Chiropractor program offers their students a dual degree program where they earn a bachelor’s or masters degree in science or management field as well as completing their Doctorate in Chiropractor exam. There are even Diplomate credentials that can be earned by completing post-graduate programs in Doctor of Chiropractor. These Diplomate credentials are provided due to the additional training they obtain in post-graduation in specialty areas such as pediatrics and orthopedics.

Duties performed by Chiropractors

It is generally the work of chiropractors to focus on the overall health of the patients. It is believed that the malfunctioning spinal joints and the somatic tissues can cause problems in a person’s neuromuscular system and can result in poor health. They generally perform the following duties on patients:

• Assessing the medical condition of the patient by the assessment of their medical history and performing their examinations accordingly.
• The analysis of the posture, reflexes, and spine of the patient.
• Taking x-rays and conducting various tests to evaluate the patient’s problems.
•  Providing the patient with neuromusculoskeletal therapy while adjusting their joints and spinal column.
• Providing additional therapeutic remedies by applying heat or cold wherever required in the patient’s joints.
• Advising patient’s on exercise, nutrition, sleep habits in order to treat their health and lifestyle issues.
• Refer the patients to other professionals for further treatment if anything more serious to be found in the patient’s health.
• Use techniques of massage, rehabilitation exercises, and ultrasound in order to manipulate spinal treatments.
• They also provide braces or shoe inserts in order to treat patients for relieving pain.
• There are several specializations for chiropractors like in the case of pediatrics, orthopedics, nutrition, and sports.
• The decision-making skills for Chiropractors are of great importance for treating patients with the best course of action possible as well as when to refer to other professionals.
• The importance of detail is also an essential characteristic of Chiropractors for proper diagnosis.
• They should have good dexterity to perform adjustments and massages to spinal cords and joints.
• They should be empathetic and understand the problems and pain of their patients.
• The interpersonal skills should be optimum as a lot of verbal and physical interactions happen with patients and they should be able to make their patients feel comfortable.
• A Chiropractor should have good organizational skills in order to maintain their business and practice properly all at once.

Important qualities that are essential for being a Chiropractor

Career and Job Outlook of Chiropractors

The practice of Chiropractors is projected to grow more than 20% in the next 10 years which is faster than the growth rate of all other occupations. The non-surgical and therapeutic way of treating pain is becoming more of a choice for elderly patients as it doesn’t involve any drugs. The treatment of neck, joints and spinal cord is becoming more acceptable through therapy than through drugs and surgery due to result of new researches. This has given more clients to Chiropractors and even more healthcare workers such as physicians and orthopedics to refer to Chiropractors than to surgery. The aging of the large baby-boom generation in the ’80s and ’90s will require the services of a huge number of Chiropractors in order to get their neuromusculoskeletal problems treated. The increase in the number of desk jobs which causes back pain and spinal problems due to lack of proper posture in their office spaces are also in huge numbers who would require Chiropractic services. Even the medical insurance companies have provided Chiropractic therapy under their insurance and therefore more and more people are choosing Chiropractors to relieve them from their pain.

Salaries and scope for Chiropractors

The median annual salary earned by a Chiropractor in the USA is $67,520. The median wage is the wage at which the 50% workers of any profession earned more than that amount and 50% of the professionals earned less than that. Among Chiropractors, only 10% of the professionals earned less than $32,380 and the highest 10% of the professionals earned more than $141, 030.  When this is compared with general Physicians, they earned median annual wage of $75,590. We can clearly see that the difference is not much when compared to the popularity of Physicians as compared to Chiropractors. The experience of Chiropractors also adds up to their clientele and therefore it requires patience to earn a reputation among such professions, but they are very rewarding when the practice flourishes.