A chiropractic physician is considered a primary health care provider, and as such a portal of entry to our health care delivery system. The practice of chiropractic is the utilization of the relationship between the musculoskeletal structures of the body, the spinal column and the nervous system, in the restoration and maintenance of health, in connection with which patient care is conducted with due regard to first aid, hygienic, nutritional and rehabilitative procedure and the specific vertebral adjustment and the manipulation of articulations and adjacent tissues of the body. Through their education, D.C.'s are qualified to treat a large variety of health problems. They do this non-invasively, i.e. without the use of drugs or surgery. As chiropractic has developed, many practitioners have chosen to specialize in treating certain types of disorders of the human body.
Many chiropractors limit their practices to treatment of musculoskeletal disorders.
Others treat neurogenic disorders and the neurophysiological components of many varied conditions via body mechanics. Some chiropractors concentrate on finding and correcting vertebral subluxations only. Many practitioners provide immediate crisis care only, while others specialize in treating and rehabilitating chronic or degenerative disorders. Chiropractic treatment of sports injuries is on the rise, and, in fact, many doctors are team physicians for various sports at the amateur, professional and Olympic levels. Chiropractic physicians, by virtue of their education, are qualified to evaluate permanent impairment and disability, as well as render a professional opinion regarding permanency of that impairment or disability.