Chiropractor

Through the art of massage, the craft of skeletal manipulation, and the power of knowledge, you can help people deal with and overcome back pain. Chiropractors understand every vertebra, nerve, and skeletal component of the back, from the base of the brain to the tip of the tailbone.

Chiropractors possess a valuable combination of skill and knowledge, and that’s why people look to them when they’re in pain. When a patient limps in, you — the Chiropractor — begin with a thorough discussion of the patient’s medical history and current symptoms. Does he have shooting pain down one leg? Is there a kink in her neck that just won’t go away? This type of information helps you make an evaluation. But if further tests are needed, you order x-rays.

The skeletal manipulation starts with a massage of the area. This relieves tension, allows the muscles to relax, and gives the vertebrae mobility so they can slide back into place. With gentle pushes and other forms of manipulation, you maneuver the vertebrae back into alignment. Follow-up appointments are common as those little buggers like to pop back out. So you keep working on them until you’ve got them well trained.

You might work with a group of Doctors or go into private practice. Depending on the size of your office, you might also be in charge of hiring and monitoring staff, advertising, and scheduling office maintenance. Character traits beneficial to the position are the ability to communicate with a variety of people, strong listening skills, and empathy.