Millions of people suffer back injuries every year - and many of those people turn to chiropractors to give them back their quality of life. Once considered a non-mainstream practice, chiropractors have gained legitimacy and respect as more and more people are relieved from chronic pain every day.

Chiropractors are fully accredited and licensed doctors who must attend one of the accredited chiropractic schools in the country.

Chiropractic medicine deals with the principle that spinal joint misalignments interfere with the nervous system. Chiropractic physicians believe this misalignment can result in lower resistance to disease, as well as other conditions of diminished health. While many of the alignments and manipulations of the musculoskeletal system take place around the spine area, that isn't the only place on the body in which a chiropractor works. Unlike other specialized physicians, chiropractors seek to get to the source of the pain and treat it, rather than just relieving the symptoms of the pain or other health issues caused by the misalignment. They may recommend lifestyle changes, exercise or use other natural remedies such as massage therapy, but they do not prescribe drugs.

Those interested in attending one of the accredited chiropractic schools in the U.S. must have at least 90 hours of college study before enrolling in a chiropractic program. The Bureau of Labor Statistics report that many students already possess a bachelor's degree before choosing one of the 16 programs at chiropractic schools in the country. Minimum requirements recommend courses in English, humanities, several disciplines in biology, physics, chemistry and psychology.

Most chiropractic schools require a minimum of 4,200 hours of combined classroom and clinical work before graduating from the program. The first two years typically focuses on classroom study in anatomy, physiology, public health, microbiology, pathology, and biochemistry. The remainder of the training includes classroom training in manipulation and spinal adjustment as well as other specialized medical training and clinical training. At the end of the course in chiropractic school, students are awarded a Doctorate of Chiropractic. All states require licensure before practicing chiropractic medicine.

Those who successfully complete the program at a chiropractic school can choose to take additional training to specialize in various modalities, including orthopedics, neurology, sports injuries, nutrition, rehabilitation, radiology, industrial consulting, family practice, pediatrics, and applied chiropractic sciences.

Adjust Yourself and Walk Straight into a Lucrative Career
The ever-increasing aging population who has more aches and pains than ever before will make the demand for chiropractors increase more than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the number of chiropractors will increase by 14 percent between 2006 and 2016. People are also seeking more natural, alternative means in which to relieve pain and chiropractors will be needed to fill that demand.

Chiropractors may elect to join an existing practice, which may already have contracts with sports teams, and others who use chiropractors to manage their health. Many, however, choose to open their own practice after completing chiropractic school.

The average median income for chiropractors in 2006 was nearly $105,000 per year. However, as with all medical practices, the return is low in the beginning until the practice grows. The amount of income also depends on geographic location.

Crack into a growing profession today - locate a chiropractic school in your region and get started!