UPDATED NOV. 10, 2021
Chiropractic care has a long history. From the Greek words “done by hand,” the chiropractic profession dates to 1895. Thanks to high patient satisfaction scores and the increasing evidence-based research backing non-pharmaceutical approaches to treating musculoskeletal pain and conditions, there are more than 70,000 practices open worldwide. Now, where should you go for your doctor of chiropractic (D.C.) degree? Here are 4 things to look for in your search for the perfect chiropractic college.
The depth of support services should become evident through your conversations with academic advisors and during your on-campus visit.
Excellent questions to ask in your chiropractic college evaluation include:
Are student clubs available and encouraged?
Having regular interaction with other chiropractic students who share your interests will enhance your chiropractic knowledge and skills. Clubs and organizations may include student memberships in chiropractic professional organizations, provide community service opportunities, and focus on specific chiropractic techniques.
Is there an on-campus fitness center?
The fast pace of chiropractic college is demanding. Maintaining physical fitness will help you be at your best, and having access to an on-campus fitness center with convenient hours of operation will help you achieve that.
Is there a resource for mental health, financial, and life issue counseling?
Although many colleges and universities provide some counseling services, a full spectrum of services offered through a professional all-in-one program is a better option, such as WellConnect. Learn more about one chiropractic college’s deployment of WellConnect services here.
Will I have access to a professional, on-campus library?
You’ll want access to hard copy, online resources, digital collections (eBooks, eJournals, and databases), plus document delivery services and study suites for individuals and groups.
Does the college teach business strategy skills?
Typically, the topics and issues of operating a successful chiropractic practice are explored through a “success strategies” program.
Such a program is led by a doctor of chiropractic who’s navigated how to start and expand a chiropractic practice and meet patient expectations. Sessions should explore customer service, operations best practices, setting up a practice, and financial knowledge.
Are full-scale tutoring services provided?
Chiropractic colleges tap into the knowledge of upper-trimester students for tutoring. These tutors are selected for their mastery of specific subjects and their ability to instruct in an encouraging way.
Is there a full-time financial aid staff?
A knowledgeable financial aid staff must know the best options to pay for chiropractic college and understand repayment obligations after graduation.
The financial aid office should also guide you to scholarship possibilities not often known to the public, such as the Foxworth Family Scholarship through ChiroHealthUSA and the essay competition offered through the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE).
As with choosing any university program, you want a chiropractic college that encourages you to talk to and work closely with established chiropractors.
Expect your chiropractic college to offer shadowing experiences and preceptorship roles. It’s also important the school brings in successful alumni to relate how they’ve become trusted healthcare professionals in the communities they serve.
A chiropractic office is a business, and businesses depend on people who are satisfied with the services provided and pleased with how you’re willing to help them with their specific health problems.
When selecting a chiropractic college, you’ll want to see a focus on ways and techniques for establishing a trusting relationship. Ask if teaching the soft skills – active listening, breaking down clinical terms into everyday language, showing empathy, etc., are integrated into the doctor of chiropractic degree program.
You already know the human musculoskeletal system is complex and that chiropractic acknowledges the role of the nervous system in the control, coordination, and regulation of the human body. Chiropractic procedures seek to relieve interference caused by disturbed joint biomechanics through manual assessment and correction.
Here are descriptions of the most common techniques to learn in chiropractic college.
Diversified Technique
A diversified technique refers to the ways chiropractors apply this treatment to correct biomechanical distortions in the body’s spine or joints.
Students learn how to do this correctly through instruction by licensed chiropractors and guided practice sessions using technology such as a special force-sensing table, which measures and records the amount of force used and the speed and the direction on a body mannequin. Students receive real-time feedback that improves their manual skills in treating many musculoskeletal scenarios.
Gonstead Technique
Developed by a chiropractor with mechanical engineering expertise, the Gonstead technique evaluates spine function by way of:
Thompson Technique
This technique uses a patient table with connected segments that can move up in increments to treat a specific area of the body. When set and released, these table movements help the doctor of chiropractic minimize the manual thrust needed to restore proper spine or extremity function.
Flexion-Distraction Technique
This chiropractic technique is used to treat cervical and lumbar disc herniations, non-disc spinal disorders and increase the mobility of spinal joints.
Extremity Techniques
These are special techniques applied to shoulders, elbow, hip, knee, and ankle/foot/toe joints. These techniques assist a chiropractor in addressing carpal tunnel syndrome or conditions related to improper gait or posture.
Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a private, nonprofit, healthcare-focused university in Overland Park, Kansas, a large suburban city within the Kansas City metro. Most students earn their Doctor of Chiropractic degree (D.C.) in 3.3 years through our year-round trimester schedule.
Points of distinction for the CUKC chiropractic degree include:
Request information about the CUKC Doctor of Chiropractic program here. You’ll want to get this free eBook: Your Complete Guide to the Chiropractic Profession.
