What does a chiropractor do?

What is a Chiropractor?

A chiropractor focuses on the spine, joints, and nervous system to help people feel better, move easier, and stay healthy. They use hands-on techniques, most often called spinal adjustments or manipulations, to correct misalignments, relieve pain, and improve how the body functions. Chiropractors often treat problems like back or neck pain, headaches, and stiffness, and they also help with posture, flexibility, and overall wellness.

This career is well-suited for people who enjoy working closely with others, have strong problem-solving skills, and take an interest in anatomy and how the body works. Chiropractors need patience, good communication skills, and the ability to stay calm under pressure, as they guide patients through treatment plans and recovery. A natural curiosity about health, movement, and helping others improve their quality of life is a big advantage in this field.

What does a Chiropractor do?

Duties and Responsibilities
Chiropractors use hands-on techniques and spinal adjustments to help relieve pain and improve body function. Their work includes a variety of responsibilities to support overall health and wellness.

Patient Assessment: Chiropractors start by reviewing medical history, performing physical exams, and sometimes using imaging to understand a patient’s condition. This helps identify the source of pain and plan the best course of care.
Diagnosis and Treatment Planning: Based on assessments, they create personalized treatment plans using techniques like spinal adjustments, joint mobilization, and therapeutic exercises. The goal is to address the root cause of discomfort, not just the symptoms.
Spinal Manipulation: Chiropractors use precise, hands-on adjustments to improve joint mobility and spinal alignment. These techniques help reduce pain, restore movement, and support overall body function.
Pain Management: In addition to adjustments, chiropractors may use massage, heat/cold therapy, or electrical stimulation to relieve pain and inflammation. This combination helps patients recover from acute injuries or manage chronic conditions.
Preventive Care and Wellness: Chiropractors teach patients about posture, ergonomics, exercise, and nutrition to support long-term musculoskeletal health. Their advice helps prevent injuries and maintain overall wellness.
Collaboration and Patient Education: Chiropractors work with other healthcare professionals when needed and guide patients in self-care strategies. Educating patients empowers them to take an active role in their recovery and health maintenance.

Types of Chiropractors
There are several types of chiropractors who specialize in different areas of chiropractic care. Some of the most common types of chiropractors include:

Chiropractic Neurologists: Have advanced training in the nervous system and focus on how nerves and muscles work together. They use this knowledge to diagnose and treat conditions that affect movement and body function.
Chiropractic Radiologists: Specialize in interpreting X-rays, MRIs, and other imaging scans. Their insights help guide accurate diagnoses and treatment plans.
Chiropractic Rehabilitation Specialists: Focus on helping people recover from injuries or musculoskeletal issues. The goal is to restore movement, strength, and everyday function.
Geriatric Chiropractors: Work with older adults using gentle, age-appropriate techniques. They address problems like arthritis, joint stiffness, balance issues, and mobility challenges.
Pediatric Chiropractors: Treat infants, children, and teens with techniques suited to growing bodies. They help correct posture, spinal alignment, and other developmental issues safely.
Sports Chiropractors: Treat athletes and active individuals to manage injuries and improve performance. They also focus on preventing problems like sprains, strains, and muscle imbalances.

Are you suited to be a chiropractor?

Chiropractors have distinct personalities. They tend to be investigative individuals, which means they’re intellectual, introspective, and inquisitive. They are curious, methodical, rational, analytical, and logical. Some of them are also social, meaning they’re kind, generous, cooperative, patient, caring, helpful, empathetic, tactful, and friendly.

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What is the workplace of a Chiropractor like?

A chiropractor’s workplace is usually a clinic or health center designed for patient care and treatment. It includes treatment tables for spinal adjustments, equipment for physical therapy or rehabilitation, and sometimes machines for massage, ultrasound, or electrical stimulation. There are also consultation areas where chiropractors review medical histories, explain diagnoses, and discuss treatment plans with patients.

Day-to-day work involves a mix of hands-on treatment and patient guidance. Chiropractors perform spinal adjustments, joint mobilization, and rehabilitative exercises, while also teaching patients about posture, ergonomics, and healthy movement habits. Clinics often have a mix of private treatment rooms and open spaces for exercises, stretching, or group therapy sessions.

Chiropractors also spend significant time on administrative and professional tasks. This includes keeping detailed patient records, managing appointments, coordinating with other healthcare professionals, and staying up-to-date with continuing education. A well-run clinic balances clinical care with organization, ensuring patients receive safe, effective, and personalized treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Doctor Specializations and Degrees

Specializations
The following is a comprehensive list of the various specializations that a doctor can pursue and a brief summary of each specialization:

Allergist: An allergist specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies, asthma, and related conditions. Allergists have specialized training in the recognition and management of allergic reactions.
Anesthesiologist: An anesthesiologist keeps a patient comfortable, safe and pain-free during surgery by administering local or general anesthetic.
Cardiologist: A cardiologist specializes in finding, treating, and preventing diseases that affect the heart, the arteries, and the veins.
Cardiothoracic Surgeon: A cardiothoracic surgeon specializes in surgical procedures inside the thorax (the chest), which may involve the heart, lungs, esophagus, and other organs in the chest. As well as performing surgery, they also diagnose and treat diseases of these organs.
Chiropractic Neurologist: A chiropractic neurologist is a specialized type of chiropractor who has undergone additional training in the field of neurology. They diagnose and treat conditions that affect the brain, spinal cord, and other parts of the nervous system.
Chiropractor: A chiropractor, or doctor of chiropractic medicine, specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous system, especially in the spine. Treatment is usually physical manipulation of the joints and the spine to bring them back into alignment. A chiropractor does not perform surgery or prescribe medication.
Colorectal Surgeon: A colorectal surgeon specializes in diseases of the colon, rectum, and anus, as well as the entire gastric tract. These surgeons work closely with urologists, who handle the urogenital tract in males and the urinary tract of women, gynecologists, who deal with specific female issues, and gastroenterologists, who deal with diseases of the gut.
Doctor: An general overview of what a doctor does and how to become one.
Dentist: Dentists identify potential oral health issues such as gum disease, as well as examine patients, order medical tests and determine the correct diagnosis and treatment. They also perform oral surgery and remove teeth or address other dental health problems.
Dermatologist: A dermatologist specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of conditions affecting skin, hair, sweat and oil glands, nails, and mucus membranes (inside the mouth, nose, and eyelids) which can include cancer.
Emergency Medicine Physician: An emergency medicine physician works in emergency departments, hospitals, and urgent care clinics, and is often the first medical professional that patients see when they are in need of urgent medical care.
Endocrinologist: An endocrinologist specializes in diagnosing conditions and diseases related to the glands and hormones. While primary care doctors know a lot about the human body, for conditions and diseases directly related to glands and hormones they will typically send a patient to an endocrinologist.
Family Practitioner: A family practitioner specializes in caring for the entire family. Patients can be children, adults, and the elderly, and are treated for a wide array of medical issues.
Forensic Pathologist: A forensic pathologist investigates the cause of sudden and unexpected deaths, and is able to determine how a person died by performing an autopsy and studying tissue and laboratory results. These doctors are often called upon to provide evidence in court regarding the cause and time of such deaths.
Gastroenterologist: A gastroenterologist has specific training in diagnosing and treating conditions and diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This may include diseases and disorders that affect the the biliary system (liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and bile ducts), as well as the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine (colon).
Geriatrician: A geriatrician specializes in the care of elderly patients, and often works with patients who have multiple chronic conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease, as well as age-related cognitive and functional impairments.
Gynecologist: A gynecologist specializes in women's reproductive systems. Gynecologists are also sometimes certified as obstetricians, and will monitor the health of the mother and the fetus during a pregnancy.
Hematologist: A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of blood disorders, such as anemia and leukemia.
Hospitalist: A hospitalist is a physician whose focus is the general medical care of hospitalized patients. Their duties include patient care, teaching, research, and leadership related to hospital medicine.
Immunologist: An immunologist specializes in managing problems related to the immune system, such as allergies and autoimmune diseases. A smaller number of immunologists are strictly researchers seeking to better understand how the immune system works and to help develop better ways of diagnosing and providing treatment for many immunological conditions.
Infectious Disease Specialist: A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and hepatitis.
Internist: An internist is a 'doctor of internal medicine' who can diagnose, treat, and practice compassionate care for adults across the spectrum, from health to complex illness. They are not to be mistaken with "interns," who are doctors in their first year of residency training.
Medical Examiner: Medical examiners are responsible for performing autopsies and collecting evidence related to the circumstances of a death, including medical history, physical examination findings, and toxicology tests.
Naturopathic Physician: A naturopathic physician blends modern scientific medical practice and knowledge with natural and traditional forms of medical treatment. The goal is to treat the underlying causes of disease while stimulating the body's own healing abilities.
Nephrologist: A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases. They treat conditions such as chronic kidney disease, acute kidney injury, kidney stones, hypertension, and electrolyte imbalances.
Neurologist: A neurologist specializes in treating diseases that affect the human nervous system. It is a very prestigious and difficult medical specialty due to the complexity of the nervous system, which consists of the brain, the spinal cord and the peripheral nerves.
Neurosurgeon: A neurosurgeon specializes in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system. This includes congenital anomalies, trauma, tumours, vascular disorders, infections of the brain or spine, stroke, or degenerative diseases of the spine.
Obstetrician: An obstetrician is a medical doctor who specializes in caring for women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.
Occupational Physician: Occupational medicine is focused on keeping individuals well at work, both mentally and physically. As workplaces become more complex, occupational physicians play an important role in advising people on how their work can affect their health.
Oncologist: An oncologist specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The three primary types of oncologists are: medical oncologists that specialize in the administration of drugs to kill cancer cells; surgical oncologists that perform surgical procedures to identify and remove cancerous tumors; and radiation oncologists that treat cancer with radiation therapy.
Ophthalmologist: An ophthalmologist is a specialist that deals specifically with the structure, function, diseases, and treatment of the eye. Due to the complexities and the importance of the eye as a special sense that provides vision, the discipline of ophthalmology is dedicated solely to this organ.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon: An oral and maxillofacial surgeon treats dental and medical problems involving the oral cavity and the maxillofacial area. The maxillofacial area includes the bones of the forehead, face, cheekbones and the soft tissues. Treatment often involves performing surgery and related procedures to treat diseases, defects, or injuries, and to improve function or appearance.
Orthodontist: An orthodontist specializes in how the jaws and teeth are aligned. They help people whose teeth are misaligned or require some kind of correction – those with an improper bite, or malocclusion.
Orthopedic Surgeon / Orthopedist: An orthopaedic surgeon (or orthopedist) examines, diagnoses, and treats diseases and injuries of the musculoskeletal system. This system includes the bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, tendons, and nerves.
Osteopathic Physician: Osteopathic physicians (DOs) are fully licensed medical doctors who diagnose, treat, and help prevent illness and injury, with an added focus on the body’s musculoskeletal system. They combine conventional medical practices with a holistic approach that emphasizes whole-person care and preventive health.
Otolaryngologist: Otolaryngologists (or ENT physicians) are specialists trained in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with diseases and disorders of the ear, nose, throat (ENT), and related structures of the head and neck. These specialists are trained in both medicine and surgery.
Pathologist: A pathologist studies the causes, nature, and effects of disease. The field of pathology is broad with concentrations on changes in cells, tissues, and organs that are the result of a disease.
Pediatrician: A pediatrician specializes in providing medical care to infants, children and teenagers by administering treatments, therapies, medications and vaccinations to treat illness, disorders or injuries.
Periodontist: A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in oral inflammation, and who knows how to prevent, diagnose, and treat periodontal disease.
Plastic Surgeon: A plastic surgeon specializes in reshaping healthy body parts for aesthetic reasons, and also in repairing or replacing body parts damaged by accidents, illness or malformation.
Podiatrist: A podiatrist practices podiatric medicine, which is a branch of science devoted to the diagnosis, treatment and study of medical disorders of the foot, ankle, lower leg and lower back. In the U.S. and Canada, podiatry is practiced as a specialty.
Prosthodontist: A prosthodontist specializes in restoring the look, function, comfort, and health of a patient's oral cavity with artificial materials. These artificial materials are made up of a wide variety of restorations that include fillings, dentures, veneers, crowns, bridges and oral implants.
Psychiatrist: Psychiatrists are physicians who evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who are affected by a temporary or chronic mental health problem.
Pulmonologist: A pulmonologist specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary (lung) conditions and diseases of the chest, particularly pneumonia, asthma, tuberculosis, emphysema, and complicated chest infections.
Radiologist: A radiologist is a specialist in interpreting medical images that may be obtained with x-rays, (CT scans or radiographs), nuclear medicine (involving radioactive substances, magnetism (MRI), or ultrasound.
Rheumatologist: A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
Sports Medicine Physician: A sports medicine physician specializes in taking care of people who have sports injuries that may be acquired from playing sports, exercising, or from otherwise being physically active.
Surgeon: A surgeon performs surgery for the purpose of removing diseased tissue or organs, to repair body systems, or to replace diseased organs with transplants.
Telemedicine Physician: A telemedicine physician provides remote healthcare services to patients using telecommunications technology, facilitating virtual consultations, diagnoses, and treatment recommendations.
Urologist: A urologist specializes in the treatment of the male and female urinary tract and the male reproductive organs. Urologists can treat the kidneys, urinary bladder, urethra, uterus, and male reproductive organs. There are also specific specialty areas that urologists may choose to focus on, such as pediatric urology, male infertility, and urologic oncology.
Vascular Medicine Specialist: A vascular medicine specialist specializes in the diagnosis and nonsurgical treatment of conditions affecting the blood vessels. They may work with patients who have conditions such as deep vein thrombosis, peripheral artery disease, or pulmonary embolism.
Vascular Surgeon: A vascular surgeon specializes in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of conditions affecting the blood vessels, including aneurysms, peripheral artery disease, and varicose veins.
Veterinary Dentist: A veterinary dentist is a specialized veterinarian who focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of dental diseases and conditions in animals. They perform dental procedures such as cleanings, extractions, and oral surgeries to improve the oral health and well-being of pets and other animals.
Virologist: A virologist is a scientist or medical doctor who studies viruses, develops treatments and vaccines, and works to prevent and control viral diseases.

Related Degrees

See Also

Doctor Allergist Anesthesiologist Cardiologist Cardiothoracic Surgeon Colorectal Surgeon Dentist Dermatologist Emergency Medicine Physician Endocrinologist Family Practitioner Forensic Pathologist Gastroenterologist Geriatrician Gynecologist Hematologist Hospitalist Immunologist Infectious Disease Specialist Internist Medical Examiner Naturopathic Physician Nephrologist Neurologist Neurosurgeon Obstetrician Occupational Physician Oncologist Ophthalmologist Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon Orthopedic Surgeon Orthopedist Orthodontist Osteopathic Physician Otolaryngologist Pathologist Pediatrician Periodontist Plastic Surgeon Podiatrist Prosthodontist Psychiatrist Pulmonologist Radiologist Rheumatologist Sports Medicine Physician Surgeon Urologist Vascular Medicine Specialist Vascular Surgeon Chiropractic Neurologist Veterinary Dentist Telemedicine Physician Virologist

Careers

Degrees

See Also

Chiropractic Neurologist Sports Chiropractor Pediatric Chiropractor Geriatric Chiropractor Chiropractic Radiologist Chiropractic Rehabilitation Specialist

Pros and Cons of being a Chiropractor

While there are many benefits to becoming a chiropractor, there are also some challenges to consider. Here are some pros and cons of being a chiropractor:

Pros

Helping People: Chiropractors have the opportunity to positively impact the health and well-being of their patients by providing hands-on care for conditions such as back pain, neck pain, and musculoskeletal disorders.
Autonomy: Many chiropractors have the flexibility to set their own schedules and manage their own practices, allowing for a degree of autonomy and independence in their work.
Growing Demand: With an increasing focus on alternative and holistic healthcare approaches, there is a growing demand for chiropractic services, providing opportunities for job stability and growth.
Diverse Career Paths: Chiropractors can choose to work in a variety of settings, including private practices, multidisciplinary clinics, sports medicine facilities, and corporate wellness programs, allowing for diverse career paths and opportunities for specialization.

Cons

Educational Requirements: Becoming a chiropractor requires extensive education and training, including completion of a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree program, which typically takes four years to complete, followed by licensure exams and ongoing continuing education requirements.
Financial Investment: The cost of obtaining a chiropractic education and setting up a practice can be substantial, including tuition expenses, licensure fees, and the cost of establishing and maintaining a practice.
Physical Demands: Chiropractic work often involves prolonged periods of standing and performing manual adjustments on patients, which can be physically demanding and lead to musculoskeletal strain or injury.
Regulatory Challenges: Chiropractors must adhere to state regulations and licensing requirements, which can vary widely and may impose limitations on scope of practice or insurance reimbursement rates.
Patient Challenges: Some patients may have misconceptions about chiropractic care or may not respond favorably to treatment, leading to challenges in patient education, communication, and satisfaction.

Chiropractors are also known as:
Chiropractic Doctor