It recognizes that many factors affect health, including exercise, diet, rest, environment, and heredity. Chiropractors use natural, drugless, nonsurgical health treatments, and rely on the body's inherent recuperative abilities. They also recommend lifestyle changes in eating and sleeping habits, for example to their patients. When appropriate, chiropractors consult with and refer patients to other health practitioners. X rays are an important diagnostic tool because of the emphasis on the spine and its proper function.
Chiropractors also employ a postural and spinal analysis unique to chiropractic diagnosis.
In cases where difficulties can be traced to involvement of musculoskeletal structures, chiropractors manually manipulate or adjust the spinal column. Many chiropractors also use water, light, massage, ultrasound, electric, and heat therapy and may apply supports such as straps, tapes, and braces. They may also counsel about nutrition, exercise, and stress management, but do not prescribe drugs or perform surgery. Some chiropractors specialize in athletic injuries, neurology, orthopedics, nutrition and internal disorders. Others specialize in taking and interpreting x rays and other diagnostic images.