Are you interested in learning chiropractic? Then this course is for you!

After completingit, you will understand the theory behind chiropractic; how toassess the spinal column todetermine what bones to adjust; how to formulate a typical chiropractictreatment plan;how to adjust the neck, mid back and lower back;and tips for managing a new patient.

This course is designed for chiropractic students, new and experiencedchiropractors and those who are considering a chiropractic career. Manual therapy and fitnessspecialists like physical therapists, kinesiologists, physiatrists,massage therapists and athletic trainers who are interested in chiropractic can especially benefit from this course since they already are familiar with treating/ improving the human body with their hands.

This course is laid out in a procedure-progressivesequence:

Introduction

This video summarizes the entire course. In it, I explain that while the course obviously does not intendto replace formal chiropractic education, itcondensesthe practice of chiropractic-- its core elements-- to providea clear picture of the profession to those who are interested in pursuing a career in chiropractic; orincorporatingchiropractic treatment into their practice or services.

The course touches on chiropractic theory, exam techniques, adjusting (spinal manipulation) techniques and the basics of new patient handling-- all the things a chiropractor deals with every day in practice.

Section 1,Principles of Chiropractic

This video explainschiropractictheory; i.e.its uniqueapproachto healthcare. After completingit, you will understand therationalebehind chiropractic adjustments:whychiropractors do adjustments to the spine;what happenswhen you correct an abnormally aligned vertebral segment; and the resultinghealth benefits.

The video is highly visual and makes the concepts easy to grasp. When you understand them, it will benefit your clinical skills: you willdiagnose conditions better;bebetter able to"connect the dots" in all your cases; be a betteradjuster; and devise andprescribe better treatment plans.

Section 2, Spinal Evaluation

Posture: In this video I teachyou how to develop a "chiropractic eye" for subtle, postural deviations. A person's posture outwardlyreveals hisspine'salignment inside, so it is naturally the first thinga chiropractor should check on a patient. After completing this lecture, you will be able to determine which areas of a person's spine are out of alignmentwith just a brief check of hisposture.

Static Palpation: Palpation is the diagnosticskillof assessing the body through touch. With reference to chiropractic, staticpalpationmeans feeling for abnormal joint movementwhile the patient's spine is in a static, neutralposition. This information is correlated with the patient's symptoms andcomplaints, and other tests to narrow down the problem area.

Static palpation is usedto locate bodylandmarks to precisely locateindividual vertebra for adjusting; feel for areas of edema and heat; feel for tenderness; assessmuscle tone, and other abnormalities that can be detected by touch. It is the secondprocedure done in a typical chiropractic spinal exam (posture, static palpation, motion palpation).

Motion palpationis an evaluation technique that involves palpating spinal joints while they are in motion (rotation, flexion, extension, orsidebending)to assess for anymovementrestrictions in any plane, which would indicatevertebral misalignment and/or fixation. It is the third procedure done in a typical chiropractic spinal exam (posture, static palpation, motion palpation).

Orthopedic and Neurological Testing: In this video I explain how to do several standard orthopedic & neurological tests. Chiropractors use orthopedic and nerve testing to further narrow down the location,nature and extentof the patient's condition.

Section 3, Treatment Fundamentals

Once you know how to identify a spinal problem, the next importantdecision iswhat to recommendto the patient-- how many treatments to prescribe;what modalities are appropriate;and how long before improvement is expected.

I explain the logic behind atypical chiropractic treatment plan (prescription)so that you can explain it with confidence to a patient, and increase compliance.

Section 4, Six Important Skills of Adjusting

Before you startadjusting patients, you must understand these six, important fundamentals. Chiropractic adjusting is a uniquecombination of fine motor dexterityand biomechanically-advantagedforce generation. When done right, it is actually comfortable; but when done wrong, it can beuncomfortable to the patient, and even painful.

Doing adjustmentswrong may also cause injury toyou,the chiropractor, as well and shorten your career. It isa very physical occupation that is tough on your back and joints. Learn what to do with your body;and more importantly, whatnotto do when you are adjusting.

Section 5, Spinal Adjusting

In this section, I go to great lengthstoexplainthe fine detailsof adjusting the spine so that students "get it."

One cannot expect to learn how to adjust the spinesimply by observing a chiropracticadjustment itself. While itmay look simple in casual observation, whatyoucan'tseeare the force vectors the chiropractor uses-- the angles and amplitudes needed to move the vertebra,and the subtlethings the chiropractor does to stabilize the spine before deliveringthe thrust.

Therefore, totrulylearn how to do an adjustment properly,the procedure needs to be dissected into its individual parts. In all the videos,I point outthe keysteps of the techniqueat the precise moment they occur, freeze-framing the step and explaining how it is done, with screen annotations to make sure you understand. Not knowing how to do justoneof these things will render the adjustment ineffective!

The three videos are:

How to Adjust the Cervical Spine (Neck): I demonstrate how toadjust an occiput fixation, a C-1 fixation, and a C4 fixation.

How to Adjust the Thoracic Spine:I demonstratehow to adjust a thoracic segment using three, different techniques.

How to Adjust the Lumbar Spine: I demonstrate how to adjust the lower and upper lumbar segments using two, different techniques.

Section 6, Tips for Managing a New Patient

Most practice consultants will tell you thatpatient communication--whattosayandwhatnotto say;howyou say it andwhenyou say it-- are absolutelycritical to the success of a chiropractic practice.

In this video, I will explain the proper mindset needed when communicating with a new patient. You want your patient to feel confident in you so that she willcomplywith treatment,get the best resultsandreferher friends to your office. The way to accomplish this is through effective communication. Many chiropractors mess this opportunity up by saying the wrong things andscaring the patient away; never to return, never to refer. I'll reveal the itemsyoumustaddressand the things you shouldleave outin order to get the best results-- clinically and for business.

Section 7, Chiropractic Resources:I have provided key resources to get you started in your practice. I also reveal two individuals who I believe are the best in the business for helping chiropractors get their practices going.