Because chiropractic is both a science and an art, there are almost as many types of chiropractic as there are chiropractic physicians. Each chiropractor selects the styles of care that resonate most strongly with her own interests and philosophical beliefs. However, over time, many chiropractors adopt and blend multiple styles of care. Although many chiropractic technique systems exist, types of chiropractic care often fall into one of three main categories--sports chiropractic, wellness care and auto injury care.
Sports Chiropractic
Sports chiropractic focuses on treating athletic injuries and optimizing an athlete's potential by providing athletes with consistent care, before, during and after their competitive season or event. According to the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians, a sports chiropractor will possess certain post-doctoral qualifications, including certification as a certified chiropractic sports physician, which involves a 120-hour postgraduate training program that includes a comprehensive written examination. A chiropractor specializing in sports chiropractic may also possess a diplomate certification, which entails an additional minimum of 200 class hours and several rigorous examinations. Practitioners of sports chiropractic place a significant emphasis on treating soft-tissue lesions using techniques that restore and balance muscle tone. Sports chiropractic can be both preventive and therapeutic.
Wellness Care
Wellness care involves a proactive approach to health care by both the patient and the practitioner, so that chronic musculoskeletal complaints never manifest. Chiropractic wellness care focuses on preventive measures to optimize health, which means that patients visit their chiropractor on a regular basis to receive adjustments and manual therapies. According to Meridel Gatterman, a chiropractic physician and author of the textbook "Foundations of Chiropractic: Subluxation," wellness care also incorporates health behavior modifications, including diet and exercise, an assessment of the patient's physical and mental health, recommendations to enhance performance at both work and play and relevant home care activities for the patient. Chiropractic wellness care represents a holistic approach to health care that places the locus of control over of a patient's health into the hands of the patient.
Auto Injury Care
Because of the frequency of automobile accidents and the favorable results victims of such accidents experience through chiropractic care and rehabilitation, auto injury care has become one of the chiropractic profession's signature specialties. According to the Whiplash Prevention website, whiplash injuries--which are the most common injuries sustained during motor vehicle accidents--represent more than 70 percent of all bodily injury claims. Dr. George Langlitz III, a chiropractic physician, states that the following factors influence the extent and severity of whiplash trauma: the size of the vehicles involved in the accident, the position of the headrests, the age and gender of those involved and pre-existing conditions, such as arthritis. Chiropractic specialists in auto injury care may take relevant x-rays of the spine and will focus their treatment on managing patients' pain by using joint manipulation, physical therapy modalities and manual therapies, along with assigning the patient home care activities and recommending helpful supplements to reduce pain, swelling and inflammation. They may also provide patients with durable medical equipment, such as a cervical collar, that the patient can use at home to realize a higher quality of life.
References
- American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians: Certification
- The Chiropractic Resource Organization: Health Promotion and Wellness
- Whiplash Prevention: Whiplash Statistics
- "Foundations of Chiropractic: Subluxation;" Meridel I. Gatterman, M.A., D.C., M.Ed.; 2005
