Doctor of Chiropractic: A Career That’s for Every Body 

Whether you’re part of a NFL team or a weekend athlete, one of your most most valuable teammates will be a doctor of chiropractic. Nearly everyone will have a musculoskeletal challenge at some point, so perhaps you should look into chiropractic as a career. Yes, all 32 NFL teams  (and most other pro sports teams) have chiropractors on their healthcare staff, according to the Professional Football Chiropractic Society (PFCS).

If you’ve already applied or been accepted into chiropractic college, congratulations. The chiropractic profession is the world’s third-largest doctoral-level healthcare profession. Medical doctors (M.D.) and doctors of dentistry (D.D.S.) come in #1 and #2.

Chiropractic and Athletic Performance

For those seeking an edge in athletic performance, seeking out a doctor of chiropractic is a natural fit. A chiropractor has an elite-level knowledge of the human body’s neurological and musculoskeletal systems.

The constant motion and physical contact involved in sports – even for weekend warrior types – can often lead to pain in the back, shoulders, knees, and hips, and also puts excess stress on muscles, ligaments, and nerves.

Many people turn to doctors of chiropractic for sports-related pain and injuries, and there’s an increasing need for it: Participation in high school, club, and youth sports continues to increase.

Although specific credentials and training are not necessary for a sports-focused chiropractor, some chiropractors choose to earn the designation of Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (CCSP).

The CCSP certification does require post-graduate education in sports medicine or another area of focus. Another option for chiropractors who want to work with athletes is to become a Certified Chiropractic Sports Specialist (CCSS). Discover more about specialized sports training here.

Chiropractic: It’s Good for Every Body

The desire for better health and wellness is becoming more evident because today’s senior adults want to remain active and live independently for as long as possible. Increasingly, people of all walks of life are desiring natural solutions to feeling better, maintaining strength and flexibility, and recovering from injuries faster and more completely.

The public has long accepted a chiropractor’s abilities and knowledge, seeing for themselves evidence of its effectiveness. The 2017 report Chiropractic: A Safe and Cost Effective Approach to Health details a survey result noting that “97% of past-year chiropractic users are likely to see a chiropractor for neck/back pain.” The same survey said 95% of chiropractic patients found chiropractic treatments and methods effective.

The American College of Physicians (ACP) also went on record in 2017 with clinical recommendations for first choosing conservative, noninvasive treatments such as spinal adjustments by doctors of chiropractic.

Time to Think Chiropractic First

Chiropractic care, when applicable, is now included in at least 80% of U.S. medical plans, according to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). Other coverages for treatments by a doctor of chiropractic include:

• Workers’ compensation
• Medicare
• Specific Medicaid plans
• Federal-level Blue Cross Blue Shield plans.

Whichever college or sports team you’re rooting for most is up to you. Whatever season of life you’re in, consider making chiropractic a part of it.

The Doctor of Chiropractic Degree at CUKC

Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a private, nonprofit, healthcare-focused university in Overland Park, Kansas, a suburb of the Kansas City metro. Our Doctor of Chiropractic degree (D.C.) can be earned in 3.3 years  through our trimester schedule (three academic terms per year.)

Points of distinction for the CUKC chiropractic degree include:

• CUKC students begin learning manual spinal adjusting  techniques and patient care best practices as early as the first trimester.
• CUKC has an on-campus Technique Simulation Lab, which increases student confidence in the psychomotor skills fundamental for mastering chiropractic adjustive technique.
• Senior CUKC chiropractic student intern in the on-campus student and family clinic, then advance to the on-campus public chiropractic clinic, with an opportunity for rotation in the Chiropractic Department of the Kansas City Veterans Affairs Hospital.
• 95% of CUKC graduates pass all parts (I, II, III, IV) of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) exams within six months of graduation.

Want to know more about becoming a doctor of chiropractic? Get answers to frequently asked questions in this FAQ blog. To get more information right now, click here to get the free ebook, Your Complete Guide to the Chiropractic Profession!