

Your insurance provider may also require a referral from your primary care provider. These days, not all medical insurance carriers cover these appointments.īefore making your first appointment, call your health insurance provider directly to find out your plan’s coverage, as well as copays or deductibles. Years ago, chiropractic care was included in many health insurance plans. You can also use the Find a Doctor tool on the American Chiropractic Association’s website to find licensed chiropractors across the United States. Your current primary care physician or even a friend may be able to point you in the right direction. In some states, chiropractors may order diagnostic tests, including imaging and laboratory tests.įinding a good chiropractor may be as easy as asking around.
#Automize chiropractic license#
The scope of what a chiropractor’s license allows them to do varies by state. They may incorporate complementary medicine, like acupuncture or homeopathy, into your treatment plan as well. Your practitioner may also give you lifestyle advice, like nutrition and exercise suggestions. Sometimes, your chiropractor will prescribe corrective exercises for you to do outside of your appointments. These side effects are mild and temporary.

The areas your chiropractor manipulated may also feel sore for a while after treatment. In most cases, a chiropractor can perform all of the necessary adjustments without you needing to change out of your clothing into a hospital gown.Īfter your appointment, you may experience headaches or feel tired. Wear loose fitting, comfortable clothing to your appointment, and remove jewelry before the practitioner begins. Don’t be surprised if you hear popping or cracking sounds as your chiropractor applies controlled pressure to your joints. You may be directed to move into different positions throughout the appointment, so the chiropractor can treat specific areas of your body. You’ll likely sit or lie down on a specially designed, padded table for the treatment. Your provider may even call for additional tests, like an X-ray, to rule out fractures and other conditions.įrom there, your chiropractor may start with the adjustment. Your first visit to the chiropractor will likely consist of giving your medical history and having a physical exam.

You will likely see your chiropractor more than once or twice to manage your condition. Overall, chiropractors may work to provide holistic treatment, meaning they are treating the whole body and not just the specific ache or pain. Chiropractors specializing in the Webster technique work to realign the pelvis, which may help baby get into a good position (head down) for vaginal delivery. Pregnant women may even seek chiropractic care near delivery time. You may be surprised to learn that chiropractors can treat conditions ranging from constipation to infant colic to acid reflux. The manipulations to the different parts of the body help with a range of discomforts, including: These practitioners treat various issues and conditions involving the:ĭuring treatment, your provider performs what are called manipulations using their hands or small instruments. There are over 70,000 licensed chiropractors working in the United States today. They must also keep current in the field by taking regular continuing education classes. Regardless of specialty, all chiropractors must obtain a license to practice by taking an exam. Some chiropractors choose to specialize in several different areas, which they may describe as using “diversified” or “integrated” techniques. No one method is necessarily better than another. There are over 100 different chiropractic methods. They do an additional residency that lasts between 2 and 3 years. Some chiropractors choose to specialize in a certain area. After graduation, they move on to a 4-year chiropractic program with classes and hands-on experience.Īll states in the United States require that chiropractors obtain a doctor of chiropractic degree from a Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) accredited college. They do have extensive training in chiropractic care and are licensed practitioners.Ĭhiropractors begin their education by getting an undergraduate degree with a focus on the sciences. Chiropractors don’t hold an M.D, so they aren’t medical doctors, but they graduate with a doctor of chiropractic degree.
