Expert: Dr. Kevin D. Kanz - 5/6/2003

Question
Am looking to know what your typical day is like as a chiropractor, working hours? how many patients you see? etc. also, i would like to know what you like and dislike the most about your chosen career, average salary, and how many years of education does it take to become a chiropractor.  

Answer
As a follow-up to your origional question(s):
(a) I work 9-6 Monday-Thurs., half-days on Friday, Sat. by appointment only
(b) I see 15-25 patients per day
(c) The thing I like most is helping people, and frequently seeing the immediate results of my work.
(d) The average salery of a chiropractor in the U.S. is approximately $90k per year.
(e) Chiropractic school generally requires four years of professional training after completing undergraduate prerequisites.
http://www.amerchiro.org

Dear Ray,
I have been in practice for 15 years.  I am a solo practitianer  in a multidisciplinary medical and dental facility.  Most of my patients are referred from other medical specialists or insurance carriers.  Most of my patients are treated for neuromusculoskeletal conditions like neck pain, back pain and headaches.  I also have a fairly large sports medicine practice, where both amature and competative athletes seek chiropractic treatment to improve their performance in verious sporting activities.  Most of what we do is considered "functional restoration", where we help people move and ambulate efficently without pain.  This often involves a chiropractic adjustment or spinal manipulation.  We also use a number of physical medicine modalities such as ice, heat, electric stimulation, ultrasound, traction, therapeutic exercise, job/sport retraining and neuromuscular reeducation.  We also use a wide variety of diagnostic tools like orthopedic tests, neurological tests, x-ray, CT, MRI, EMG and nerve root conduction studies.  This helps us find the problem and identify what causes it so we can understand the best way to fix it.  Most chiropractors are in private practice or work within small groups of doctors.  Some work in hospitals and large health care facilities.  Most work their own hours.  This means that they see patients by appointment and are fairly flexible as far as accomidating their patients.  Most young chiropractic physicians will work within a group or with a more experienced doctor before starting their own practice.  The income is fairly good, however, many young doctors have a large education debt after finishing their extensive school and training.  See this link for more specific details about becoming a chiropractor:
http://www.cce-usa.org/#D
Hope this helps...
~Dr.K