Chiropractors Adjust to Health-Care Trends
Are you interested in treating people without the use of drugs or
surgery? Chiropractors offer a more natural form of treatment for muscular
and skeletal disorders. And more and more North Americans are ready to use
their services.
There are several factors fuelling this growth. These include the increasing
acceptance of chiropractors as valuable members of the health-care team, growing
public awareness of the value of leading a healthy lifestyle, consumer demand
for alternative health care, and an aging population demographic.
Also, more private medical insurers are providing funding for chiropractic
services in the United States, allowing more people to have access to those
services.
Chiropractic Care Growing in Acceptance
Frank Zolli is the dean of the college of chiropractic at the University
of Bridgeport. "There is a growing recognition in society of a chiropractic
physician's clinical expertise and the benefits of conservative chiropractic
care," he says.
Maureen McCandless is director of communications for a chiropractic association.
She predicts that people "will increasingly turn to chiropractic care for
prevention and treatment...in the coming years as the health care system continues
to evolve toward multi-disciplinary teams, and as [North Americans] continue
to seek out non-invasive therapies."
Who Pays?
"A recent study of 700,000 health plan members showed lower annual health-care
expenditures than identical members without the chiropractic benefits," says
chiropractor Frank Painter. Findings such as these are leading more and more
health insurance providers to pay for chiropractic care.
Chiropractic Care as Part of a Healthy Lifestyle
Our society now has more desire for holistic approaches to providing medical
services. There is also a growing awareness of the need for exercise and participation
in sport at all levels. "There is a growing trend in society for a more natural
form of care without the use of drugs or surgery," says Zolli.
Painter agrees. "The beauty of chiropractic is that we can help people
without reliance on drugs or surgery."
"Chiropractic care offers a conservative, non-invasive option for treatment,"
adds McCandless.
Chiropractic Specializations
The growing participation of people in all levels of sport has created
a demand for specialists within the chiropractic field. David Sommer operates
a practice that is completely devoted to treating athletes.
"I am a sports-oriented chiropractor. I concentrate not only on adjusting
patients, but the rehabilitative portion of treatment," he explains. "Patients
are becoming aware that there are ways to treat injuries other than medication.
They like the fact they are getting the great treatment that professional
athletes get."
Sommer says that treatment for athletes has been the key factor behind
the growth in his practice. McCandless confirms this trend. "Chiropractic
is becoming increasingly popular among professional, amateur and recreational
athletes."
Another rapidly growing area of the chiropractic field is rehabilitation.
As Sommer mentioned, the demand for this can be associated with athletics.
It is also associated with injuries that occur in everyday life.
Painter believes that strong growth will occur "first in the area of rehabilitation"
as patients seek a more holistic treatment for their injuries.
Zolli has a broader view. "I think as more people receive chiropractic
care and recognize its value, the entire field will grow."
An Aging Population
Baby boomers are getting older. "The incidence of musculoskeletal disorders
increases with age, and it is expected that [the] population will increasingly
seek chiropractic care," explains McCandless.
"Chiropractic care may be beneficial to patients of all ages. I do not
believe any one factor impacts the demand for chiropractic services," says
Zolli.
Getting Into the Field
Statistics show that chiropractors do not normally leave the field before
retirement.
"I believe the practice of chiropractic is satisfying because chiropractic
physicians work one-on-one with their patients," says Zolli. "As a result,
the benefits of care can be seen simultaneously by the doctor and patient."
What sort of personality is best suited to the chiropractic profession?
"Chiropractic physicians need to possess humanistic skills, empathy and the
ability to communicate with their patients," says Zolli.
He also has some advice for future chiropractors. "Research the field.
Know what kind of education is necessary to gain admittance to a chiropractic
program. Desire to help people. If this is the goal of a prospective student,
chiropractic can be a most satisfying career choice."
Links
American Chiropractic Association
Check out the Student section for training and career information
ChiroWeb -- Students
Provides info for chiropractic students everywhere
Back Pain Risk Quiz
Take the quiz to see how well you treat your back
Chiro.org -- Links
Check out this big list of resources
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