THE UNIQUE ROLE
OF CHIROPRACTIC
The
chiropractic profession has experienced dynamic growth internationally,
especially in the past two decades, due to increasing recognition of its
educational and research standards and its role in reducing health care costs.
Amongst manual systems of
health care, chiropractic is among the most educated, researched and most
popularly used, and had been recognized and regulated in law by around 90
countries.
Founded as a drug free system of health care more than a century ago, chiropractic has a unique approach aimed at normalizing nerve function body wide. Because results are often seen first in the function of the spine and joints, chiropractic has emerged as a leader in the drug free management of spine related pain syndromes. However its application has a much broader impact on health than just simple pain reduction.
Chiropractic deals with the spine in relation to the nervous system Chiropractic recognises the supremacy of the nervous system in all aspects of health, performance and function. Chiropractors work by influencing the nervous system and its control of body posture and global body function. This is achieved primarily through specific adjustments to the spine and related joints.
As a
primary health care practitioner, a chiropractor is able to assess the
individual’s suitability for chiropractic care, giving careful consideration to
the possible health benefits available through chiropractic care in
conjunction, if necessary, with any appropriate medical co-management.
Education
Chiropractic education
involves university study and post-graduate training and is similar to that of
a medical practitioner in the length of the course, lecture hours and basic
subjects studied, but differs in its clinical sciences, as chiropractors have
different clinical skills, differing application and delivery, and different
clinical objectives.
The chiropractic profession, almost
uniquely as a profession, has internationally agreed standards of education, monitored presently through the Councils for Chiropractic
Education (C.C.E.), of which there is a European agency, the ECCE. Presently,
the World Health Organisation (W.H.O.), in conjunction with major chiropractic
associations, is drafting guidelines on basic training and safety of
chiropractic for governmental referral.
X-rays are used by chiropractors to provide
information concerning individual developmental variants, injuries and spinal
pathologies that could affect the chiropractic management and care of an
individual. >Chiropractors are trained
in radiology and radiography to internationally recognised standards - both
taking and reading their own x-rays in many countries including America,
Australia, Canada and UK.
Chiropractic in Ireland
Chiropractic is
growing exponentially in Ireland with many young Irish chiropractors now
returning trained to the highest standards in the world. There are several voluntary,
self-regulatory bodies for chiropractors in Ireland. The Allied Chiropractic Group
(ACG)is the latest. Only chiropractors
with internationally recognized qualifications may join the ACG. At present, in Ireland, there is no
statutory system of registration of chiropractors, meaning anyone, including
those who are not qualified, may use the title Chiropractor, a situation that
presently leaves both the public and profession unprotected.
Inclusion of chiropractic care into managed health care environments has been shown in numerous international governmental studies to dramatically reduce costs both to patient and third party payers. With Irelands rapidly rising health care costs, chiropractic may well be one of the most beneficial health care reforms available to Irish health care decision-makers, reducing hospitalization and work loss.