Chiropractic

Chiropractic is a form of alternative medicine mostly concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, especially the spine. Proponents claim that such disorders affect general health via the nervous system, through vertebral subluxation, claims which are demonstrably false. The main chiropractic treatment technique involves manual therapy, especially spinal manipulation therapy (SMT), manipulations of other joints and soft tissues. Its foundation is at odds with mainstream medicine, and chiropractic is sustained by pseudoscientific ideas such as subluxation and "innate intelligence" that reject science. Chiropractors are not medical doctors.

Numerous controlled clinical studies of treatments used by chiropractors have been conducted, with conflicting results. Systematic reviews of this research have not found evidence that chiropractic manipulation is effective, with the possible exception of treatment for back pain. A critical evaluation found that collectively, spinal manipulation was ineffective at treating any condition. Spinal manipulation may be cost-effective for sub-acute or chronic low back pain but the results for acute low back pain were insufficient. The efficacy and cost-effectiveness of maintenance chiropractic care are unknown. There is not sufficient data to establish the safety of chiropractic manipulations. It is frequently associated with mild to moderate adverse effects, with serious or fatal complications in rare cases. There is controversy regarding the degree of risk of vertebral artery dissection, which can lead to stroke and death, from cervical manipulation. Several deaths have been associated with this technique and it has been suggested that the relationship is causative, a claim which is disputed by many chiropractors.

Chiropractic is well established in the United States, Canada, and Australia. It overlaps with other manual-therapy professions such as osteopathy and physical therapy. Most who seek chiropractic care do so for low back pain. Back and neck pain are considered the specialties of chiropractic, but many chiropractors treat ailments other than musculoskeletal issues. Many chiropractors describe themselves as primary care providers, but the chiropractic clinical training does not support the requirements to be considered primary care providers, so their role on primary care is limited and disputed. Chiropractic has two main groups: "straights", now the minority, emphasize vitalism, "innate intelligence", and consider vertebral subluxations to be the cause of all disease; "mixers", the majority, are more open to mainstream views and conventional medical techniques, such as exercise, massage, and ice therapy.

D. D. Palmer founded chiropractic in the 1890s, after saying he received it from "the other world", and his son B. J. Palmer helped to expand it in the early 20th century. Throughout its history, chiropractic has been controversial. Despite the overwhelming evidence that vaccination is an effective public health intervention, among chiropractors there are significant disagreements over the subject, which has led to negative impacts on both public vaccination and mainstream acceptance of chiropractic. The American Medical Association called chiropractic an "unscientific cult" in 1966 and boycotted it until losing an antitrust case in 1987. Chiropractic has had a strong political base and sustained demand for services; in recent decades, it has gained more legitimacy and greater acceptance among conventional physicians and health plans in the United States.

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Scholarships for Chiropractic Majors

Bullet name award deadline Link
 

Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Up to $30,000 Varies See Details
 

Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

award

Up to $30,000

deadline

Varies
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NEXT for Autism Fellowship

NEXT for Autism, Inc.

Up to $10,000 June 12, 2023 See Details
 

NEXT for Autism Fellowship

NEXT for Autism, Inc.

award

Up to $10,000

deadline

June 12, 2023
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Excellence in Allied Health Scholarship - NMC

Nebraska Methodist College

$6,000 Varies See Details
 

Excellence in Allied Health Scholarship - NMC

Nebraska Methodist College

award

$6,000

deadline

Varies
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Kaiser Permanente Health Equity Scholarship

UNCF, Inc

Up to $5,000 June 14, 2023 See Details
 

Kaiser Permanente Health Equity Scholarship

UNCF, Inc

award

Up to $5,000

deadline

June 14, 2023
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Panacea Financial Medical School Scholarship

Panacea Financial

$5,000 June 30, 2023 See Details
 

Panacea Financial Medical School Scholarship

Panacea Financial

award

$5,000

deadline

June 30, 2023
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Tylenol Future Care Scholarship

TYLENOL Brand Scholarship Fund

Up to $10,000 August 01, 2023 See Details
 

Tylenol Future Care Scholarship

TYLENOL Brand Scholarship Fund

award

Up to $10,000

deadline

August 01, 2023
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HFA Eric Delson Memorial Scholarship

Hemophilia Federation of America

$5,000 August 01, 2023 See Details
 

HFA Eric Delson Memorial Scholarship

Hemophilia Federation of America

award

$5,000

deadline

August 01, 2023
See Details
 

Military Spouse Scholarship

Western Governors University

Up to $4,000 Varies See Details
 

Military Spouse Scholarship

Western Governors University

award

Up to $4,000

deadline

Varies
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American Indian Medical Scholarship Award

National Society of the Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA)

$3,000 December 01, 2023 See Details
 

American Indian Medical Scholarship Award

National Society of the Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA)

award

$3,000

deadline

December 01, 2023
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Memorial Foundation Scholarship - SWIC

Southwestern Illinois College

$2,500 Varies See Details
 

Memorial Foundation Scholarship - SWIC

Southwestern Illinois College

award

$2,500

deadline

Varies
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