Expert: Dr. Kevin D. Kanz - 2/17/2006

Question
I'm a highschool student - in my 11th year - and I'm starting to think a lot about my future.  Lately I've been thinking of pursuing a career as a Chiropractor.  Is physics 12 (in highschool) or physics in post-secondary school required?  

I'm also really interested in pursuing a career as a physiotherapist.  Are these two careers closely related?  Say, if I go into a post-sec.  program - human kinetics/kinesiology - would that be helping both careers?


Thanks.

Answer
Linda,
Physics (both highschool and college) is a requirement for obtaining admission to an accredited chiropractic program.  I would think it is the same for a degree program in physical therapy as well.  As the greater part of chiropractic training is the study of human biomechanics, you can see where physics plays an important roll.  Chiropractic health care involves a great deal of study in human movement and function, so the physical sciences such as physics, chemestry, and biology are core academic subjects.  Try this Q&A link, I think you will find it helpful in determining of chiropractic is a good career choice for you:
<http://www.cce-usa.org/Frequently%20Asked%20Questions.pdf>

Chiropractic is a branch of the healing arts focused on human health and disease processes. Doctors of Chiropractic are physicians who consider people as an integrated being and give special attention to the physiological and biomechanical aspects including structural, spinal, musculoskeletal, neurological, vascular, nutritional, and emotional and environmental relationships.

The practice and procedures which may be employed by Doctors of Chiropractic are based on the academic and clinical training received in and through accredited chiropractic colleges and include, but are not limited to, the use of current diagnostic and therapeutic procedures (including physiotherapy). Such procedures specifically include the adjustment and manipulation of the articulations and adjacent tissues of the human body, and most specifically the spinal column. Included is the treatment of abnormalities to address functional disorders.

Chiropractic is a drug-free, non-surgical science and does not include pharmaceuticals or surgery. Chiropractic manipulation is one of several established forms of treatment used for back problems. Now, with today's growing emphasis on treatment options, manipulation is receiving much more widespread attention. Chiropractic manipulation, also frequently called the chiropractic adjustment, is the form of manipulation that has been most extensively used by Americans for the last one hundred years.

Satisfied chiropractic patients already know that DCs are uniquely trained and experienced in diagnosing back problems and are the doctors most skilled in using manipulation for the treatment of back pain and related disorders (source: American Chiropractic Association). Chiropractic doctors are also highly skilled performing and interpreting diagnostic proceedures as well as physical medicine and rehabilitation treatment options. World class medical and research institutions such as The Texas Back Institute, Bethesda Navel Medical Center and The Cedars-Sinai Institute for Spinal Disorders provide access to chiropractic care and employ chiropractic physicians.
Additional links:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos071.htm
http://www.chiroweb.com/archives/ahcpr/uschiros.htm
http://www.fcer.org/
http://www.chiro.org/
http://www.acatoday.com
http://www.chiro.org/research/ABSTRACTS/Conditions.shtml