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A Doctor of Chiropractic is the health professional whose job is to treat, correct, and prevent neurological, skeletal, or soft tissue dysfunction by employing spinal and other articular adjustments and manipulations. He or she evaluates a patient's health by conducting a history and physical examination. This examination utilizes inspection, palpation, and other diagnostic testing including, but not limited to diagnostic imaging, laboratory diagnostics, etc. After diagnoses have been made, a Doctor of Chiropractic may choose several non-pharmaceutical, non-surgical methods to correct vertebral subluxations and other neuromusculoskeletal ailments to re-establish better neurological, muscular, and skeletal function in the body. Most methods include some form of adjustment where a specific manual contact point is calculated and a specific force is delivered along specific vectors to correct the vertebral misalignment. This adjustment is made by contacting specific bony structures at the spinal level where the chiropractor has found the subluxation. The chiropractor makes use of a variety of diagnostic tools to determine the location and nature of the subluxation.

The Chiropractic physician prescribes other conservative means of treatment for promoting wellness, including: basics of proper nutrition, exercise and ergonomics instruction, lifestyle counseling, and emotional support. Many chiropractors receive additional training to be qualified to use a variety of other treatments including accupuncture, as well as naturopathic and herbal remedies in order to better serve their patients' needs.

While other professions are concerned with changing the environment to suit the weakened body, chiropractic is concerned with strengthening the body to suit the environment. - B. J. Palmer

The chiropratic approach to health places an emphasis on the health of the individual patients and on the health of the entire community. A Chiropractic physician fulfills this role by encouraging and fostering conditions that prevent disease and recommending lifestyle habits that promote health and general wellbeing. A doctor of chiropractic recognizes the need for other forms of therapy when indicated; and interacts fully with other members of the health care profession. When a conditions in one of their patients presents that is beyond the scope of chiropractic, the Doctor of Chiropractic is well trained to make note of this and make an appropriate referral to the correct specialist in the Healthcare field.

The scopes of practice for the Doctor of Chiropractic vary from one State or region to another. A different set of laws and governing body therefore exists for each one and describes what the chiropractor is allowed to do in his or her jurisdiction.

"D.C." is the suffix added to the end of a chiropractor's name to indicate that they are a Doctor of Chiropractic. Chiropractors can also be referred to simply as "Doctor".

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