Table of Contents
- What Is a Chiropractor?
- What Do Chiropractors Do?
- What Does a Chiropractor Do During the First Visit?
- What Happens During a Chiropractic Adjustment?
- How Does Chiropractic Care Work?
- What Do Chiropractors Treat?
- What Are the Benefits of Chiropractic Care?
- Reasons to See a Chiropractor
- When Should You See a Chiropractor?
- Is Chiropractic Care Safe?
- Who Can Receive Chiropractic Treatment?
- Are Chiropractors Doctors?
- Chiropractor Schooling: What Degree Do Chiropractors Have?
- What Tools Do Chiropractors Use?
- Chiropractic Services at Armeli Chiropractic in Eagan, MN
- Where Do Chiropractors Work?
- What Should You Look for in a Chiropractor?
- Final Thoughts
- Frequently Asked Questions
- About the Author
If you have back pain, neck stiffness, a sports injury, or limited movement, you may have wondered, what do chiropractors do? A chiropractor is a healthcare professional who evaluates and manages many musculoskeletal conditions, with particular attention to the spine, joints, muscles, and related movement problems.
Chiropractic care can involve more than a spinal adjustment. Depending on a patient’s condition and goals, a chiropractor may perform a physical examination, review medical history, assess movement, use diagnostic imaging when appropriate, provide manual therapy, recommend therapeutic exercises, and help patients manage injuries or improve physical function.
For people, chiropractic care may be used for concerns such as back pain, neck pain, work injuries, auto injuries, sports-related problems, and mobility limitations.
This guide explains what chiropractors do, what conditions they commonly treat, what happens during an appointment, how chiropractic adjustments work, how chiropractors are trained, and when chiropractic care may be appropriate.
What Is a Chiropractor?
A chiropractor is a licensed healthcare professional who focuses primarily on the neuromusculoskeletal system—the body’s bones, joints, muscles, nerves, and related tissues.
Chiropractors commonly evaluate problems involving the spine and extremities and use hands-on techniques or specialized instruments to influence joint movement and surrounding tissues. Treatment may also include exercise, rehabilitation strategies, soft-tissue techniques, and advice related to movement and daily activities.
The specific services a chiropractor can provide depend on professional training and state scope-of-practice laws.
It is also important to understand what chiropractic care is not. A chiropractor is not a substitute for emergency medical care, and chiropractic treatment is not appropriate for every condition. A responsible chiropractor should recognize situations that require referral to another healthcare professional.
What Do Chiropractors Do?
So, what do chiropractors do during a typical course of care?
A chiropractor may:
- Review your symptoms, medical history, and previous injuries
- Perform a physical and musculoskeletal examination
- Evaluate spinal and joint movement
- Assess posture, mobility, strength, and areas of tenderness
- Determine whether chiropractic treatment is appropriate
- Use spinal manipulation or mobilization when clinically appropriate
- Provide soft-tissue techniques
- Recommend exercises or movement strategies
- Use specialized equipment or instruments
- Order or review diagnostic imaging when appropriate and permitted
- Develop an individualized treatment plan
- Monitor your response to care
- Refer you to another healthcare professional when your condition requires additional evaluation
Spinal manipulation is one of the techniques most commonly associated with chiropractic care. It involves applying a controlled force to a joint, sometimes using the hands and sometimes a device. Spinal manipulation is also used by certain other licensed healthcare professionals.
The goal is not simply to perform an adjustment. The broader purpose of an evaluation is to understand the patient’s condition and determine whether chiropractic treatment is a suitable part of care.
What Does a Chiropractor Do During the First Visit?
So, What Does a Chiropractor Do?
Your first chiropractic appointment may look different depending on your symptoms, medical history, and reason for seeking care.
1. Discuss Your Health History
The chiropractor may ask about:
- Your current symptoms
- When the problem started
- Previous injuries
- Auto or work-related accidents
- Surgeries
- Existing health conditions
- Medications
- Physical activity
- Occupational demands
- Previous treatment
This information helps the chiropractor understand the context surrounding your symptoms.
2. Perform an Examination
A physical examination may include assessments of:
- Range of motion
- Joint movement
- Muscle function
- Posture
- Balance
- Reflexes or neurological findings when appropriate
- Areas of tenderness
- Movement patterns
The exact examination depends on the patient’s complaint.
3. Determine Whether Imaging Is Appropriate
X-rays or other imaging are not automatically necessary for every patient.
When clinically appropriate, diagnostic imaging may provide additional information about the spine or other structures. A chiropractor may also review existing imaging from another healthcare provider.
4. Develop a Treatment Plan
If chiropractic care is appropriate, the chiropractor can explain the recommended approach and what other forms of care may be useful.
Treatment can vary considerably from one patient to another.
What Happens During a Chiropractic Adjustment?
A chiropractic adjustment, also called spinal manipulation in some contexts, uses a controlled force to move a joint.
The technique can be performed manually or with an instrument. The position of the patient, direction of force, speed, and amount of pressure depend on the technique being used and the area being treated.
Some patients hear a popping or cracking sound during an adjustment. This sound can occur when gas within a joint changes pressure and is released. The sound itself is not necessary for an adjustment to be effective.
Not every patient needs the same type of adjustment. Some people may receive a manual technique, while others may be treated with a lower-force or instrument-assisted approach.
At Armeli Chiropractic in Eagan, MN, care may include techniques and services such as the Activator Method, intersegmental traction, spinal decompression, and other supportive therapies when appropriate.
How Does Chiropractic Care Work?
Spinal manipulation mechanically affects joints and surrounding tissues. Research suggests that spinal manipulation can produce modest improvements in pain and function for some people with acute or chronic low-back pain. However, the evidence does not support describing chiropractic treatment as a universal cure or as a way to permanently “realign” the body.
The effects of chiropractic treatment can involve several factors, including changes in joint movement, muscle activity, pain processing, and the patient’s ability to move comfortably.
Chiropractic care may also be combined with other approaches, such as exercise, rehabilitation, soft-tissue therapy, or education about movement.
The appropriate approach depends on the individual rather than a single treatment technique.
What Do Chiropractors Treat?
Chiropractors commonly care for musculoskeletal complaints involving the back, neck, joints, and muscles.
Depending on their training and scope of practice, chiropractors may work with patients experiencing:
Back Pain
Lower back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek chiropractic care. Spinal manipulation is one of several non-drug approaches that may help some people with acute or chronic low-back pain.
Neck Pain
Neck discomfort can be associated with posture, repetitive activities, muscular tension, injuries, or other musculoskeletal problems. A chiropractor can evaluate the cause and determine whether chiropractic care is appropriate.
Headaches
Some headaches may be associated with musculoskeletal problems involving the neck. Chiropractic care may be considered in certain cases, but headaches can have many causes, so persistent, severe, or unusual headaches require appropriate medical evaluation.
Sports Injuries
Athletes may seek chiropractic care for musculoskeletal injuries, mobility limitations, or rehabilitation support. Treatment can be combined with exercise and performance-focused rehabilitation.
Auto Injuries
Whiplash and other injuries following motor vehicle accidents can involve the neck, back, muscles, and joints. A comprehensive evaluation is important after an accident, particularly when symptoms are significant or changing.
Work-Related Injuries
Repeated lifting, prolonged sitting, awkward positions, and physically demanding work can contribute to musculoskeletal problems. Chiropractic care may be part of a broader recovery plan when appropriate.
Joint and Muscle Problems
Depending on the chiropractor’s training and scope of practice, care may address certain problems involving the shoulders, hips, knees, feet, and other areas of the musculoskeletal system.
What Are the Benefits of Chiropractic Care?
The potential benefits of chiropractic care depend on the condition being treated and the individual patient.
For some people, chiropractic treatment may help:
- Reduce certain types of musculoskeletal pain
- Improve joint movement
- Improve physical function
- Make everyday movement more comfortable
- Support recovery from certain injuries
- Provide a non-drug treatment option for some pain conditions
- Complement exercise and rehabilitation
For low-back pain specifically, evidence indicates that spinal manipulation may provide modest improvements in pain and function for some patients. It should be viewed as one option among several evidence-based approaches rather than as a treatment that works for everyone.
Reasons to See a Chiropractor
People seek chiropractic care for different reasons.
Common reasons include:
- Persistent back or neck discomfort
- Limited joint mobility
- Muscle tightness
- Recovery after certain injuries
- Sports-related musculoskeletal concerns
- Auto accident injuries
- Work-related injuries
- Difficulty performing normal activities because of pain or stiffness
- Interest in conservative approaches to certain musculoskeletal problems
- Support with physical performance and rehabilitation
You do not necessarily need to wait until pain becomes severe before discussing a musculoskeletal concern with a healthcare professional.
At the same time, routine chiropractic visits are not a substitute for evaluating new or unexplained symptoms. The reason for treatment should be clear, and care should be adjusted according to how you respond.
When Should You See a Chiropractor?
Consider discussing your symptoms with a chiropractor when a musculoskeletal problem is affecting your movement, work, exercise, sleep, or everyday activities.
A professional evaluation may be particularly useful when:
- Back or neck discomfort persists
- Joint stiffness limits movement
- You have experienced a sports or work injury
- You are recovering from an auto accident
- Recurring symptoms interfere with daily activities
- You want guidance for a musculoskeletal rehabilitation plan
However, some symptoms require medical attention rather than routine chiropractic treatment.
Seek urgent medical care for warning signs such as:
- New loss of bladder or bowel control
- Significant or progressive weakness
- Severe numbness
- Symptoms following major trauma
- Sudden severe headache
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Signs of stroke or another neurological emergency
A chiropractor should also refer a patient when examination findings suggest that another type of medical evaluation is needed.
Is Chiropractic Care Safe?
For appropriately selected patients, chiropractic care is generally considered a relatively safe form of conservative care. However, no healthcare treatment is completely risk-free.
After spinal manipulation, some people experience temporary soreness, stiffness, discomfort, or headache. These effects generally resolve within a short period. Serious complications have been reported but are very rare.
Safety begins with appropriate patient screening.
Tell your chiropractor about:
- Existing medical conditions
- Previous surgeries
- Recent injuries
- Medications
- Blood-thinning medication
- Neurological symptoms
- Pregnancy
- Other treatments you are receiving
A qualified practitioner should consider your individual circumstances before recommending a technique.
Who Can Receive Chiropractic Treatment?
Chiropractic care may be used across different stages of life, but the appropriate technique and treatment plan depend on the patient.
Pediatric Chiropractic Care
Some chiropractic practices provide pediatric services. Because children differ significantly from adults, techniques and clinical decision-making should be age-appropriate and provided by a practitioner with relevant training.
Parents should discuss the reason for care and expected benefits with the child’s healthcare professionals.
Prenatal Chiropractic Care
Pregnancy changes posture, movement, and the mechanical demands placed on the body. Some pregnant patients seek chiropractic care for musculoskeletal discomfort.
A prenatal treatment plan should be individualized, and pregnancy should always be disclosed to the practitioner.
Chiropractic Care for Athletes
Athletes may seek care for mobility limitations, injury recovery, physical performance, or rehabilitation support. Chiropractic treatment may be combined with exercise and sport-specific rehabilitation.
Are Chiropractors Doctors?
Yes, chiropractors who have earned the Doctor of Chiropractic degree are commonly referred to as doctors of chiropractic, or D.C.s.
However, a D.C. is different from an M.D. or D.O. A Doctor of Chiropractic is trained specifically in chiropractic and musculoskeletal healthcare, while physicians trained as M.D.s or D.O.s receive broader medical education covering the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of diseases and conditions.
In the United States, chiropractic is a regulated profession. Chiropractors must satisfy state-specific education, examination, and licensing requirements before practicing.
Therefore, the answer to “Are chiropractors doctors?” is yes in the professional sense of holding a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, but a chiropractor is not a medical doctor.
Chiropractor Schooling: What Degree Do Chiropractors Have?
A chiropractor in the United States earns a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree from an accredited chiropractic college.
Training includes subjects related to:
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Pathology
- Diagnosis
- Neuromusculoskeletal conditions
- Diagnostic imaging
- Chiropractic techniques
- Clinical sciences
- Patient examination
- Clinical practice
After completing chiropractic education, graduates must satisfy examination and state licensing requirements. Requirements vary by state. The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners reports that its examinations assess areas including basic science, clinical science, diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, chiropractic principles, and clinical skills.
In Minnesota, patients can verify that their chiropractor meets the state’s licensing requirements through the appropriate state regulatory system.
What Tools Do Chiropractors Use?
Chiropractors may use different tools depending on their training, treatment philosophy, and the patient’s condition.
Common examples include:
Chiropractic Adjustment Tables
Specialized tables can help position the patient and support different adjustment techniques.
Activator Instruments
The Activator Method uses a handheld instrument to deliver a controlled, low-force impulse.
Traction Equipment
Traction approaches may be used to apply a controlled pulling force to portions of the spine.
Spinal Decompression Equipment
Some chiropractic clinics use decompression systems as part of treatment for selected patients. The specific indication and expected benefit should be discussed with the treating professional.
Diagnostic X-Ray
When clinically indicated, spinal X-rays may help evaluate certain structural findings. Imaging should be used when it is medically appropriate rather than automatically performed on every patient.
Kinesio Taping
Kinesiology tape may be used as a supportive technique for selected musculoskeletal problems.
Soft-Tissue Techniques
Chiropractors may use myofascial release, trigger point techniques, or other forms of soft-tissue treatment depending on their training.
Chiropractic Services at Armeli Chiropractic in Eagan, MN
At Armeli Chiropractic, chiropractic care can be tailored to different patient needs and musculoskeletal concerns.
Available services include:
- Chiropractic Care
- Pediatric Care
- Prenatal Care
- Athlete Care
- Auto Injury Care
- Activator Method
- Intersegmental Traction
- Spinal X-Ray
- Spinal Decompression
- Kinesio Taping
- Myofascial Release
- Trigger Point Therapy
- Physiotherapy
- Work Injuries Care
- Webster Technique
- Wellness Care
This range of services allows treatment to be selected according to the patient’s condition rather than relying on one technique for every person.
Whether someone is dealing with an injury, recurring back discomfort, an athletic concern, or a movement limitation, the first step is an appropriate evaluation.
Armeli Chiropractic Location and Contact Information
Location: Eagan, MN
Phone: +1 651-688-0736
Website: Chiropractor in Eagan, MN
Map: Armeli Chiropractic – Eagan, MN
Where Do Chiropractors Work?
Many chiropractors work in private chiropractic offices, but chiropractic professionals can also practice in settings such as:
- Multidisciplinary healthcare clinics
- Rehabilitation facilities
- Sports and performance settings
- Wellness practices
- Occupational health environments
- Other healthcare settings, depending on state regulations and professional training
The exact role of a chiropractor varies according to the practice, specialty, state scope of practice, and additional qualifications.
What Should You Look for in a Chiropractor?
Choosing a chiropractor involves more than looking for a convenient location.
Consider asking:
- Is the chiropractor licensed in my state?
- Does the chiropractor have experience with my type of problem?
- What examination will be performed?
- Why is a particular treatment being recommended?
- What are the expected benefits and possible risks?
- Are there alternatives to the proposed treatment?
- How will progress be evaluated?
- When would you recommend referral to another healthcare professional?
- What will treatment cost, and what does insurance cover?
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health also recommends asking about education, licensure, relevant experience, expected visits, costs, and insurance coverage when selecting a chiropractor
Final Thoughts
So, what do chiropractors do?
Chiropractors evaluate and manage many musculoskeletal problems, particularly those involving the spine, joints, muscles, and movement. Their work may include patient examinations, spinal manipulation, mobilization, soft-tissue techniques, rehabilitation strategies, specialized equipment, and other supportive approaches.
Chiropractic care is not one-size-fits-all. Some people may benefit from spinal manipulation for certain musculoskeletal conditions, while others may need exercise-based rehabilitation, medical care, imaging, or referral to another healthcare professional.
For patients, choosing chiropractic care should begin with understanding the cause of the problem, discussing treatment options, and selecting care that fits the individual’s needs.
At Armeli Chiropractic, Dr. Andrew Armeli provides individualized chiropractic care focused on musculoskeletal health, physical function, injury care, performance, and wellness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a chiropractor do for your back?
A chiropractor evaluates the back and surrounding musculoskeletal structures and may use spinal manipulation, mobilization, soft-tissue techniques, exercise recommendations, or other appropriate treatments. Spinal manipulation may provide modest improvements in pain and function for some people with acute or chronic low-back pain.
What does a chiropractor treat?
Chiropractors commonly manage musculoskeletal problems such as back pain, neck pain, joint discomfort, certain headaches, sports-related injuries, auto injuries, and work-related injuries. The conditions a chiropractor can diagnose and treat depend on training and state scope of practice.
What happens during a chiropractic adjustment?
A chiropractor applies a controlled force to a joint, either manually or with a specialized instrument. The technique and amount of force depend on the patient’s condition and the practitioner’s clinical approach.
Are chiropractors doctors?
Yes. Licensed chiropractors earn a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree. However, a D.C. is different from an M.D. or D.O., and chiropractors do not have the same medical training or scope of practice as medical physicians.
Is chiropractic care safe?
Chiropractic treatment is generally considered relatively safe for appropriately selected patients. Temporary soreness, stiffness, discomfort, or headache can occur after spinal manipulation. Serious complications are very rare, although risks should be discussed based on individual health circumstances.
Can children receive chiropractic care?
Some chiropractors provide pediatric care using approaches adapted to children. Parents should discuss the reason for treatment, expected benefits, risks, and alternatives with qualified healthcare professionals.
Can pregnant women see a chiropractor?
Some chiropractors provide prenatal care. Pregnancy should always be disclosed, and treatment should be individualized based on the patient’s health and stage of pregnancy.
What degree does a chiropractor have?
A chiropractor earns a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree after completing chiropractic education and meeting applicable examination and state licensing requirements.
Do chiropractors use X-rays?
Some chiropractors use or order spinal X-rays when clinically indicated and permitted by their scope of practice. Imaging is not necessary for every patient.
Should I see a chiropractor or physical therapist?
It depends on your condition and goals. Chiropractic care may emphasize spinal and joint evaluation and manual techniques, while physiotherapy often emphasizes exercise, movement, strength, and functional rehabilitation. In some situations, both types of care may be part of a broader recovery plan.
What are red flags when choosing a chiropractor?
Be cautious about guaranteed cure claims, unnecessary long-term treatment plans without clear clinical reasoning, pressure to purchase services you do not understand, or recommendations to avoid appropriate medical care. A good provider should explain the diagnosis, treatment rationale, alternatives, risks, and expected outcomes.
About the Author
Dr. Andrew Armeli, DC
Dr. Andrew Armeli is a National Board Certified Chiropractor in Eagan, Minnesota, with advanced certifications in whiplash care, pre-sports physicals, and performance rehabilitation. He focuses on neurological function, musculoskeletal health, physical function, and individualized chiropractic care.
Dr. Armeli works with patients throughout the Twin Cities and has professional interests in injury care, performance goals, and musculoskeletal concerns. Outside of the clinic, he enjoys disc golf, fishing, and spending time with his family and dog, Cora.
