 | Dr. Michael Esparza is the owner of Midtown Chiropractic Clinic, 1359 N. Market and Common Sense Chiropractic at 216 W. Main in Valley Center. A graduate of Cleveland Chiropractic College, he has been in the health care field for over 20 years, including 6 years in the military as a medic and 13 years as a paramedic on the K.C. fire department. He is a nationally certified Chiropractor and speaks Spanish, which he says is convenient for the Hispanic community. Contact Dr. Esparza at 316-269-2221, Wichita, 755-3333, Valley Center, or at drbonesesparza@hotmail.com. |
Health & Medicine
2003-12-01 09:52:00
Are chiropractors real doctors?
ANSWER: Yes and yes. Chiropractors do not include medication in their treatment program. Chiropractors maintain that the body has a built-in innate capacity to restore health. The education received by chiropractors is extremely thorough and demanding. Aspiring doctors of chiropractic receive extensive teachings in the structure and functioning of the human body, the disease processes, and how health is achieved and maintained. Chiroprac-tors are real doctors, and the modern term used for these physicians is, Doctors of Chiropractic. In chiropractic care, an emphasis is placed on the management of spinal disorders and their role in overall health and wellness. Similar to the requirements of medical schools, prior to entering chiropractic college students must first complete 2-4 years of premed undergraduate studies - depending on the chiropractic college and state one wishes to practice in. During this time there is an emphasis on basic sciences including organic chemistry, general chemistry, physics, biology, and psychology. Upon successful completion of the undergraduate studies, those students who are accepted to a chiropractic college enter a 4-5 year academic program, which is similar in content to medical school. Upon graduation from a chiropractic college and the passing of all national board exams, students undergo state board examination for the state that they wish to practice in. If successful, the new doctor of chiropractic will receive his or her license for the practice of chiropractic in that state. Once licensed, most states require the doctor of chiropractic to attend annual seminars in order to maintain a high level of competency and keep technical skills sharp and as current as possible. Failure to do so will result in the revocation of the doctor's license. As with most Doctors of Medicine, Doctors of Chiropractic also further their knowledge and skills by completing additional studies after graduation. These 1-3 year programs provide the information to place the doctors at the top of the health care field in specific areas. Some of the areas of study include orthopedics, neurology, radiology, sports, rehabilitation, nutrition, pediatrics and research. You may be surprised to learn that chiropractic doctors receive more class and study time in many important subjects compared with their medical counterparts. Also, currently the area of chiropractic care is the fastest growing branch of medicine. Next month we'll talk more about this, and will compare the education requirements of Doctor of Chiropractic and Doctors of Medicine.
