Manipulation Training Among Providers
While one may think that manipulation (aka adjusting) may be common knowledge among many different provider types, the fact of the matter is that there is a wide disparity in training among different types of health care providers. Below is a breakdown of the number of clock hours of training in manipulation by provider type:
Medical Doctors (M.D.)- Zero Hours
Physical Therapists (P.T.)- Zero Hours1
Osteopathic Physicians (D.O.)- 146 Hours2
Chiropractic Physicians (D.C.)- 563 Hours3
1)PT's are often trained in mobilization, but not manipulation
2)Not all osteopathic colleges require manipulation as a core class, and it is only an elective in some of these schools. This means that many D.O.'s have little or no training in manipulation, just like their M.D. counterparts.
3)Chiropractic Manipulation is required in all chiropractic colleges. According to several authorities, including the RAND Corp., Chiropractors have the most training in manipulation and perform 94% of all manipulations (aka adjustments) in the United States.
This information is merely given to reveal the whole picture when it comes to health care provider training. Also, it is given so that you as the consumer can make an informed decision about which health care provider to choose for your health care needs. More often than not, a health care provider with more training can provide safer experience with better clinical outcomes.
Reference: Hillyer, M. "Manipulation in the Curricula of Chiropractic, Osteopathic, Physical Therapy, and Medical Schools"