皇家墨爾本理工大學(xué)

Chiropractors are primary contact practitioners focusing on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Chiropractic emphasises the relationship between the musculoskeletal system and general health. It promotes self-help measures and health promotion in the management of musculoskeletal disorders.

You will examine how such disorders affect biomechanics, the nervous system and health in general. The focus is on manual treatments such as spinal adjustments and other joint and soft-tissue manipulation.

Anatomy, physiology and pathology courses underpin the clinical science studies of physical examination, differential diagnosis for the chiropractor and clinical practicum.

You will begin work-integrated learning immediately, culminating in your fourth year when you will perform patient-care duties with supervision from a registered practitioner.

At the RMIT Health Clinic at University Hill, Bundoora, fourth and fifth year students, under the supervision of registered chiropractors, treat patients using a wide variety of management approaches.

Electives and program structure

Year 1

Anatomy and physiology are emphasised and you will be introduced to chiropractic history and basic assessment.

Year 2

The focus is on advanced anatomy including neuroanatomy and chiropractic studies.

Year 3

You'll begin integrating your basic sciences knowledge with what you've learned in the ongoing chiropractic classes.

Year 4

You'll enter RMIT’s teaching clinic and start treating patients, supervised by clinical teaching staff.

Year 5

You'll continue patient care and have the opportunity to do this in private clinics in Australia and community outreach settings.

Career

Chiropractors offer care for functional disorders of the body’s mechanical system, including joints, muscles and ligaments by assessing the way these parts of the mechanical system align and work together.

They can provide treatment, advice and assistance for patients experiencing:

neck related headaches
neck and back pain or stiffness
limb problems associated with the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand, hip, knee, ankle and foot

Chiropractors treat patients by:

recording their case details
conducting physical examinations
interpreting diagnostic images like X-rays
adjusting and manipulating body joints and soft tissue
giving advice about general health matters such as exercise, posture and nutrition
providing rehabilitation and advice for prevention of injury

Chiropractors are usually employed in private practice as sole practitioners or in a group practice environment. Increasingly, chiropractors share offices with other healthcare practitioners in a multidisciplinary environment.