Our Portland Chiropractic Services

Chiropractors specialize in the conservative care of the neuro-musculoskeletal system. This includes the spine and extremities. Chiropractors trained at the University of Western States receive well over 1,000 hours of training in the anatomy, diagnosis, treatment, and management of extremity conditions prior to completing their doctoral training, as well as complete over 1000 hours of clinical internship prior to graduation.

Because chiropractors specialize in the conservative care of the neuro-musculoskeletal system, chiropractic training differs from medical training. According to a comparison study of University of Western States (chiropractic) vs Oregon Health and Science University (medical):

• Chiropractic students study gross anatomy for 9 months including lecture and laboratory courses on gross anatomy, dissecting cadavers, over 250 hours in total. Medical students obtain about 190 hours in gross anatomy.  Chiropractic education contains 40% more study in gross anatomy.
• Chiropractic students have 3582 hours of classroom training prior to graduation.  Medical students have 2465.
• Chiropractic students receive 12 more hours in neuroanatomy training.
• Chiropractic students obtain 348 hours of neurophysiology, neuropathophysiology, and diagnosis and treatment of neurological & musculoskeletal disorders, including brain structure and function.  Medical students have 217 hours of neurology/neurosurgery training.
• Chiropractic students have 319 hours of radiology training.  Medical students have 24.  Chiropractic training requires 13 times more radiology training than medical school.
• Overall, chiropractic students receive 732 hours of classroom training in anatomy/neurology, while medical students obtain 490 hours.