Chiropractor Course

Lesson 1 • Chiropractic Within Healthcare Systems

Positions chiropractic within interprofessional healthcare and regulatory frameworks. Students understand referral pathways and collaborative care models.

Lesson 2 • Research Literacy and Evidence-Based Practice

Introduces critical appraisal of chiropractic research and clinical guidelines. Equips students to apply evidence to patient care decisions from the outset.

Lesson 3 • Core Principles and Terminology

Defines subluxation, innate intelligence, and adjustment concepts central to chiropractic. Builds shared vocabulary used throughout the entire program.

Lesson 1 • Postural Analysis and Gait Assessment

Introduces static postural evaluation and dynamic gait analysis as diagnostic tools. Links postural deviations to biomechanical stress and clinical symptoms.

Lesson 2 • Extremity Anatomy and Joint Mechanics

Examines upper and lower extremity joints, muscles, and kinetic chains relevant to chiropractic care. Prepares students for extremity assessment and adjustment techniques.

Lesson 3 • Biomechanical Principles of Spinal Motion

Applies coupled motion, instantaneous axes of rotation, and load distribution to spinal segments. Students predict how dysfunction in one segment affects adjacent structures.

Lesson 4 • Neuroanatomy for Chiropractors

Focuses on spinal cord, nerve roots, and peripheral nerve distributions critical to chiropractic diagnosis. Establishes the neural basis for referred pain and radiculopathy patterns.

Lesson 1 • Comprehensive Patient History

Teaches structured intake interviews covering chief complaint, pain characteristics, and health history. Accurate history-taking drives subsequent examination and diagnostic decisions.

Lesson 2 • Vital Signs and General Physical Examination

Establishes baseline health status through vital sign measurement and systems review. Identifies red flags requiring medical referral before chiropractic intervention.

Lesson 3 • Clinical Reasoning and Differential Diagnosis

Applies hypothetico-deductive reasoning to generate and refine differential diagnoses. Integrates history, examination, and imaging into a coherent clinical impression.

Lesson 4 • Orthopedic and Neurological Examination

Covers standardized orthopedic tests, reflex testing, and sensory-motor evaluation for spinal and extremity conditions. Findings guide adjustment selection and contraindication screening.

Lesson 1 • Patient and Practitioner Positioning

Covers table mechanics, patient draping, and ergonomic practitioner stance for safe technique delivery. Proper positioning prevents practitioner injury and optimizes force transmission.

Lesson 2 • Cervical Spine Adjustment Techniques

Teaches diversified and specific cervical adjustments with emphasis on pre-adjustment screening. Students apply appropriate force and direction for each cervical segment.

Lesson 3 • Thoracic Spine Adjustment Techniques

Introduces prone and supine thoracic adjustments using diversified and drop-piece methods. Connects thoracic mobility to respiratory function and upper extremity complaints.

Lesson 4 • Principles of the Chiropractic Adjustment

Defines the adjustment, its therapeutic intent, and the biomechanical forces involved. Establishes the conceptual framework applied in all subsequent technique chapters.

Lesson 1 • Low-Force and Soft-Tissue Techniques

Covers craniosacral, toggle-recoil, and myofascial release approaches used as adjuncts or alternatives. Expands options for patients who cannot tolerate high-velocity manipulation.

Lesson 2 • Instrument-Assisted Adjusting Methods

Introduces activator, impulse, and similar mechanical adjusting instruments and their clinical applications. Students calibrate force settings and apply instruments to spinal and extremity segments.

Lesson 3 • Extremity Adjusting Techniques

Applies chiropractic adjustment principles to shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle joints. Addresses extremity dysfunction that contributes to or results from spinal complaints.

Lesson 4 • Adapting Techniques for Special Populations

Modifies adjustment force, positioning, and technique selection for pediatric, geriatric, and pregnant patients. Ensures safe and effective care across the full patient lifespan.

Lesson 1 • Therapeutic Exercise Prescription

Introduces stabilization, strengthening, and flexibility exercises tailored to spinal and extremity conditions. Exercise prescription complements adjustments and reduces relapse rates.

Lesson 2 • Taping, Bracing, and Supportive Devices

Covers kinesiology taping, rigid taping, and orthotic recommendations as adjunctive supports. Students match supportive devices to patient activity levels and clinical goals.

Lesson 3 • Rehabilitation for Common Conditions

Applies modality and exercise selection to low back pain, neck pain, and shoulder conditions. Students build condition-specific rehabilitation protocols grounded in clinical evidence.

Lesson 4 • Electrotherapy and Thermal Modalities

Covers TENS, ultrasound, interferential current, and thermotherapy applications in chiropractic settings. Students select modalities based on tissue healing stage and patient presentation.

Lesson 1 • Nutritional Foundations for Musculoskeletal Health

Reviews macronutrients, micronutrients, and anti-inflammatory dietary patterns relevant to chiropractic outcomes. Connects nutritional status to tissue healing, bone density, and pain modulation.

Lesson 2 • Sleep, Stress, and Recovery Optimization

Examines how sleep quality and chronic stress affect pain perception and healing. Students provide evidence-based sleep hygiene and stress reduction recommendations.

Lesson 3 • Weight Management and Metabolic Health

Addresses obesity's mechanical and inflammatory impact on spinal and joint health. Students design weight management counseling strategies appropriate to chiropractic scope.

Lesson 1 • Marketing and Community Outreach

Develops patient acquisition strategies through digital marketing, community education, and referral networks. Students build a sustainable patient base while maintaining professional integrity.

Lesson 2 • Ethics, Professionalism, and Patient Relations

Addresses ethical decision-making, professional boundaries, and patient communication standards. Students apply ethical frameworks to complex clinical and business scenarios.

Lesson 3 • Clinical Documentation and Record-Keeping

Teaches SOAP note writing, progress reporting, and electronic health record use for chiropractic encounters. Accurate documentation supports continuity of care, billing, and legal compliance.

Lesson 4 • Billing, Coding, and Insurance Processes

Introduces procedure coding, diagnosis coding, and claim submission processes for chiropractic services. Students navigate reimbursement systems and minimize claim denials.