Foundation for Chiropractic Education

Our mission is to educate the public regarding the benefits of chiropractic care. Share the foundations of chiropractic healthcare with the world! Today’s donation is tax deductible.

What is Chiropractic care?

Chiropractic is a “health profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health.” Spinal manipulation or adjustment is practically synonymous with chiropractic (Doctors of Chiropractic deliver over 90 percent of this care in the US). While spinal manipulation is at the core of a Doctor of Chiropractic’s clinical skill, they also provide patients with expert assessment, as well as evaluation and diagnosis. Additionally, Doctors of Chiropractic provide other care and counsel to patients including modalities such as heat, cold, electrical stimulation and rehabilitation as well as therapeutic exercise and general fitness recommendations. Advice about nutrition, vitamins, smoking cessation and relation techniques are usually shared with a majority of patients.

Chiropractic has been practiced for over 125 years, helping millions of people around effectively address injury care, chronic pain and other health-related conditions, while also aiding them in their quest for optimal wellness. Learn more about this natural and effective form of treatment. Today, chiropractors are providing prevention and wellness services that help individuals attain optimal whole being health without drugs and surgery, as well as assisting people with a variety of injuries — including workers compensation and auto accident injuries.

Find a Chiropractor on F4CP

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Doctor of Chiropractic

Following a typical pre-health care undergraduate experience usually at the baccalaureate level,Doctors of chiropractic (DC) must complete four to five years of professional education at an accredited chiropractic college. The Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) requires that students complete 90 hours of undergraduate course work with science as the focus, prior to admittance. Most students entering chiropractic college have attained a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree.

The complete chiropractic curriculum includes a minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical experience, with over 500 hours devoted to mastering adjustive techniques and spinal analysis. The chiropractic curriculum delivers an in-depth understanding of the structure and function of the human body in health and disease, along with training in the basic medical sciences as well as differential diagnosis, radiology and therapeutic techniques. A Doctor of Chiropractic is qualified to both diagnose and treat a patient, which according to the CCE, classifies DC’s as Primary Care Providers and separates them from providers of non-physician status.

Becoming a practicing Doctor of Chiropractic requires passing of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners and the local examination of the state, province, territory or country where they are seeking licensure/registration.

What to Expect

During an initial chiropractic consultation, patients will be asked to provide their DC with an accurate health history; including family health history and pre-existing conditions. If you are visiting a DC for a pain-related issue, you will be asked about the origin and location of the ailment

Following the consultation a chiropractic examination will include a variety of familiar tests, including reflexes and blood pressure, along with procedures testing your range of motion, posture and joint movement. In some cases, your doctor may request X-rays or other diagnostic tests in order to properly evaluate your condition.

Utilizing his or her extensive diagnostic training, your DC will provide feedback and determine whether your condition is likely to respond to chiropractic care. If so, your course of treatment is likely to require a more intensive schedule of visits at the beginning, which will decrease as you progress toward resolution of your ailment(s). Additionally, suggestions may be made relative to lifestyle and wellness-related activities to maintain improved level of function. Recommendations on key components of a healthy lifestyle including exercise, diet, posture and stress may also be provided.

Health Tips

The fast-paced, demanding lifestyle of teens and adults can commonly lead to undesirable health conditions. As preventive care specialists, doctors of chiropractic suggest following certain tips to achieve a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

Stress Management

Ongoing stress can be detrimental to your health; leading to obesity, depression and heart disease.

Tips to help manage stress:

* Relax and calm the body – taking slow and steady breaths
* Get organized – eliminate over scheduling and conflicts
* Get more sleep – increasing energy and concentration levels
* Exercise – improve physical health and raise overall spirits
* Find a hobby – enjoying activities boosts happiness

Headache Prevention

As society continues its love affair with high-tech gadgets, the extensive amount of “screen” time people spend on their computers and televisions can lead to physical aches – particularly back pain, neck pain and headaches. Recent studies have found the high amounts of time spent on screen-based activities can be a contributing factor in physical health problems.

Inactivity and sitting for lengthy periods of time puts nearly twice the amount of stress on the spine as standing. This can tighten and shorten muscles which may lead to injury.

As spinal specialists, doctors of chiropractic advise teens to take three to five minute breaks during extended periods of “screen” time. As always, proper posture will also help reduce the chance of injury – especially when sitting for long periods.

The Chiropractic Evidence

Researching the effectiveness of chiropractic has been producing dozens of supporting studies. The summary, we know chiropractic alignments are safe and effective method to managing your whole-being’s health and pain.

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Foundation for Chiropractic Progress is an associated campaign

Here are some of the informative commercials from f4cp:

The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress embraces a mission of generating positive press for the support of the chiropractic profession and increasing public awareness to the many benefits associated with chiropractic care.

The Foundation’s public awareness campaign consists of monthly press releases, advertorials, public service announcements, advertisements (print, radio, television) and partnerships with high profile spokespeople.

To learn more about the F4CP and its remarkable positive press campaign, please visit: www.f4cp.org.

Foundation for Chiropractic Education