In almost all cases, chiropractic universities require applicants to have earned prerequisite courses and/or a degree from a traditional college or higher learning institution. As with most academic organizations, chiropractic universities provide intensive clinical training and education. Curriculums vary, but for the Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) Program, students frequently engage in approximately 4,200-5,000 instructional hours, which can be achieved in a four to eight-year time span (depending on part-time and full-time course availability).

While each state differs in licensure requirements, applicants should familiarize themselves with pre-chiropractic and other educational requirements prior to enrolling in one of several chiropractic universities. In addition, common curriculums that are extended through chiropractic universities entail in-depth instruction in anatomy, biochemistry, business, chiropractic skills, clinical nutrition and diagnosis, microbiology, neurosciences, pathology, physiology, psychology, public health, and radiology. Students who have completed all applicable training and internship programs will be able to sit for the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners test. Upon successful completion and passing the exam, students must also (in most cases) maintain specified hours of annual continuing education to retain licensure.

A number of chiropractic universities offer post-doctoral courses in a variety of subjects including applied chiropractic sciences, family practice, neurology, nutrition, orthopedics, pediatrics, radiology and rehab; to list just a few. For the entrepreneur, chiropractic universities allow individuals to become self-employed healthcare providers who often work solo or in small, partner practices.

Students drawn to the fascinating field of chiropractic will find that chiropractic universities not only present course-intensive education and training, but will also discover that this alternative health treatment taught at chiropractic universities is quickly becoming mainstream medicine.

Furthermore, chiropractic universities also enable successful graduates to enter a health care practice, which is definitely on the rise. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employment of chiropractors is expected to grow faster than average for all occupations through the year 2014 as consumer demand for alternative health care grows.”

If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding one of several chiropractic universities, let education within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.

Chiropractic Universities: Teaching Doctors of Tomorrow
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The second largest healing profession in the world, chiropractic healing is a form of holistic health care that works under the premise that the body has an inherent internal balance between structure and function. When this balance is toppled, which could be due to several reasons, ‘dis-ease’ sets in. According to this method of healing, the root of most diseases can be found in the interrelationships between the spinal column and the nervous system (the Master System of the body). When the spinal vertebrae are misaligned, the spinal nerves become irritated and this alters many of the main functions of the body. Chiropractic doctors attempt to heal by restoring this innate equilibrium. To do this, they first identify the source of the problem.

Chiropractic doctors follow a standard routine in order to make their diagnosis. They depend heavily on patient histories and conduct in-depth physical, orthopedic and neurological examinations. Often, x-rays are used to rule out fractures and locate any misalignments in the spine. Many chiropractic doctors also examine the posture of the patient and their lifestyle to evaluate the correct position of the spine and its functioning.

To treat patients, chiropractic doctors mainly depend on manual adjustments of the spinal column. They make use of massage, water, acupuncture, electric and ultrasound waves, heat and cold to stimulate the joints, nerves and muscles. Sometimes doctors also employ supports like braces, tapes and straps to manually align the spine.

Chiropractic doctors are particularly helpful in cases of ailments and conditions related to joints and muscle. Scoliosis, acute back pain, arthritis, back and neck pain, sciatica and whiplash are effectively treated by chiropractic doctors. In fact, chiropractic healing has been very effective in a number of cases where surgery has been recommended for patients who were subjected to high degree of pain and fatigue due to their health conditions. Chiropractors are also extremely beneficial in cases of tension related headaches.

Medical doctors treat a problem in its exclusivity. For them, the affected part is the whole; they do not see the part in relation to the entire body. Chiropractic doctors consider the entire body system before they start the healing process. Unlike modern medicine where symptoms are treated and the cessation of the symptom is the end of the disease, chiropractors attempt to bring about permanent healing. For this, they often recommend diet and lifestyle changes. Regular exercises, proper food and proper posture are important facets of healing. Instead of prescription drugs and surgery, chiropractic doctors make use of stress management tools and proper lifestyle.

Chiropractic doctors and their methods of holistic healing are becoming more and more popular for the treatment of musculoskeletal problems because of its emphasis on the patient’s overall health. These doctors provide excellent non-invasive treatment procedures and recognize the importance exercise, diet, health, environment and heredity. In rare cases, chiropractic doctors even recommend the case to other doctors or undertake therapy in conjunction with other therapeutic measures.

Decompression Therapy is an effective treatment for these conditions. It is very affordable, less expensive than surgery.

You may refer to our -FAQs for more information and helpful answers about this non-surgical treatment.

The Decompression-Reduction-Stabilization therapy is an effective treatment for:

• Herniated Disc
• Degenerative Disc
• Facet Syndrome
• Sciatica
• Post-surgical Patients
• Spinal Stenosis

Do you have a herniated disc, multiple herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, facet syndrome, or any other type of spinal problem? Is you doctor suggesting surgery, pain management or physical therapy? Have you tried Chiropractic and just could not get enough relief?

Research indicates the disc is responsible for a significant number of lumbar/leg pain and neck/arm pain syndromes. Compression increase intradiscal pressure leading to annular compromise and possible extrusion of nuclear material.

Since the disc is an avascular structure, it doesn’t receive fresh blood and oxygen with every beat of the heart. It requires “diffusion” created by motion and ‘decompression’ to restore nutrients and enhance healing.

Decompression is defined as reduction in pressure (intradiscal). Recumbent positions (both prone and supine) decrease intradiscal pressures in comparison to standing and sitting. However focused, axial mechanical+Y translation traction, (creating ‘decompression’ i.e. unloading due to distraction and positioning) has been shown to reduce disc pressure and enhance the healing response even further.

There is some suggestion in the literature that extruded nuclear material may be “drawn in” by the reduction of intradiscal pressures. This concept however is not uniformly accepted since the length of time the material stays ‘drawn in’ has not been established in controlled studies. However, a temporary reduction in intradiscal pressure can still have a profound effect on the healing process via increased contact with the blood supply and fibroblast migration (so called phasic effects). This is in addition to the pain relief created neurologically by stretching soft tissue (e.g. stretch receptors, mechanoreceptors etc.) make decompression therapy a logical and viable addition to a “passive” pain care regiment.

Clinically it is important to establish criteria both in the utilization of Decompression therapy and in defining its utility. (As with many therapies, hyperbole and overstatement are common.) Axial Decompression (both lumbar and cervical) is first and foremost a “passive” therapy and as such has definite limitations in “curing” a chronic musculoskeletal condition. Its value is most specific in helping referral pain not solely low back or acute low back pain (symptoms for which manipulation has proven beneficial).

Loss of local muscle control, abnormal posture and alterations in spinal curves are the probable underlying source of most spinal ‘compression’ and degeneration. Therefore a “passive” therapy has little effect in truly fixing the underlying problem.

However, that being said, Decompression therapy (done safely within established protocols and a clear understanding of it’s limitations) can often effectively enhance the healing process and render quick, effective and often amazing pain relief in a properly selected patient population (many who have previously failed other treatments). Additionally it may also be very useful in determining the overall prognosis of passive care and expediting the phase-in of rehab protocols.

Indications and Use

Any non-acute (>1 week) low back or neck pain syndrome not related to a disease process, canal stenosis or acute strain/sprain injury is theoretically treatable by decompression. Disc and facet pain can often be relieved by early intervention with decompression. The acute inflammation of injuries however should be reduced by other means, in most cases, prior to beginning Decompression. Contraindications are similar to manipulative therapy, however since mechanical stretch creates no impact, mild to moderate Osteoporosis may not be contraindicated. (This holds true overall for frail and elderly patients who could potentially be injured by manipulative thrusts. Disc fragmentation, calcification, severe arthritis and any surgical spinal appliances are all relative contraindications.

Our clinical findings suggest Decompression will create a relatively quick initial response. Patients who will do well tend to feel a sense of relief (which can be direct pain cessation or a centralization of pain and/or reduction to an ache or stiffness) within six sessions. Full relief, if attainable through this passive treatment will usually be in 8-12 sessions. (Occasionally a ‘stubborn’ pain syndrome may continue to improve slowly over 15+ sessions though this is not the norm). Often patients will be treated 4-6 sessions and notice enough relief to allow active rehab to begin. Their Decompression may continue (pre or post rehab depending on the methods chosen) for 4-6 further sessions before discontinuing or reducing the frequency.

Typical frequency is 3-5 times per week. The extent and seriousness of the symptoms will determine if more than three sessions per week should be utilized. Our experience suggests Decompression is also an excellent supportive or maintenance treatment for those cases where pain relief is marked but prone to exacerbations.

The Triton DTS represents the finest Decompression Traction System available today. Cervical, lumbar, and wrist Decompression Traction can be delivered utilizing the Triton DTS in a controlled and proven method.

Decompression therapy is very affordable and cheaper than surgery. Spinal Traction is highly recommended by Neurological Research. It was found that out of 778 cases of patients receiving spinal decompression 92% said that they showed improvement (Neurological Research; Volume 20, Number 3, April 1998).

Spinal Disc Decompression, utilizing Decompression-Reduction-Stabilization, is a unique, non-surgical therapy developed for the treatment of chronic lower back pain, herniated discs and degenerative disc diseases.

The Spinal Decompression table in conjunction with additional modalities effectively relieves the pain and disability resulting from disc injury and degeneration, by repairing damaged discs and reversing dystrophic changes in nerves. Spinal Disc Decompression addresses the functional and mechanical aspects of discogenic pain and disease through non-surgical decompression of lumbar intervertebral discs. Studies verify the significant reduction of intradiscal pressures into the negative range, to approximately minus 150 mm/HG, which result in the non-surgical decompression of the disc and nerve root. Conventional traction has never demonstrated a reduction of intradiscal pressure to negative ranges; on the contrary – many traction devices actually increased intradiscal pressure, most likely due to reflex muscle spasm. The Decompression table is designed to apply distraction tension to the patient’s lumbar spine without eliciting reflex paravertebral muscle contractions.

By significantly reducing intradiscal pressure, Spinal Disc Decompression promotes retraction of the herniation into the disc and facilitates influx of oxygen, proline and other substrates. The promotion of fibro elastic activity stimulates repair and inhibits leakage of irritant sulphates and carboxylates from the nucleus. The most recent trial sought to correlate clinical success with MRI evidence of disc repair in the annulus, nucleus, facetjoint and foramina as a result of treatment and found that reduction of disc herniation ranged between 10% and 90% depending on the number of sessions performed, while annulus patching and healing was evident in all cases.

The most recent clinical study of 778 patients has showed that Disc Decompression Therapy was more than 70% successful in the treatment of herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, facet syndrome, and sciatica. In this same study, 92% of patients had a reduction in their pain of at least one point on the 0 to 5 scale.