A Chiropractor will practice a healthcare discipline that emphasizes the inherent recuperative power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery. The practice of chiropractic focuses on the relationship between structure (primarily the spine) and function (as coordinated by the nervous system) and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health. In addition, doctors of chiropractic recognize the value and responsibility of working in cooperation with other health care practitioners when in the best interest of the patient.

​

The ACC definition
Association of Chiropractic Colleges, 1996

A health care profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system and the effects of these disorders on general health. A chiropractor places an emphasis on manual techniques, including joint adjustment with a particular focus on subluxations.

​

The WHO definition
World Health Organization, Guidelines on Chiropractic, 2005