There are 17 chiropractic schools in the United States. The philosophy of chiropractic practitioners is the promotion of general health without the use of drugs or surgery. Like osteopathic physicians, they believe that the body can heal itself and that the body should be treated as a whole - health is an expression of spiritual, psychological, physical, and environmental factors.
Chiropractors focus mainly on the spine, and alleviation of pain caused by spinal difficulties.
In addition, they have built a wider health care model which includes nutrition, exercise, posture, stress management, weight management, and a wide range of lifestyle counseling. Chiropractors are not the physicians of choice for serious pathologies or trauma. There are few emergency calls for chiropractors, and flexible hours allow for a personal life.