Resources
on chiropractic.

Chiropractic around the world

Chiropractic follows academic pathways and professional frameworks specific to each country. Here are some examples of its role in healthcare and support for athletes.

Regulated training and professions

• Switzerland: a university-trained medical professionFederal Office of Public Health · FOPH / OFSP (French)Chiropractic is one of five university-trained medical professions regulated at federal level. It is a profession distinct from that of a physician. — new tab
• Zurich: six years of university trainingUniversity of Zurich · Faculty of Medicine · Programme brochure, 2024 · PDF · In GermanThe programme leads to a Master of Chiropractic Medicine, which qualifies graduates to take the federal chiropractic examination. Postgraduate training then completes the pathway to independent practice. — new tab
• United States: the Doctor of Chiropractic degreeBureau of Labor Statistics · U.S. Department of Labor · In EnglishIn all 50 states, practice requires an accredited Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree, an examination and a professional licence. The D.C. is a degree distinct from the medical degree (M.D.). — new tab
• United Kingdom: a protected title and a professional registerGeneral Chiropractic Council · Regulatory body · In EnglishEstablished by the Chiropractors Act 1994, the General Chiropractic Council regulates the profession. Registration is required to use the title of chiropractor. — new tab

Champions supported by chiropractors

• Tiger Woods · GolfGOLF · Michael Bamberger's interview with Tom LaFountain · 19 October 2025 · In EnglishChiropractor Tom LaFountain looks back on 27 years of supporting Tiger Woods, including his preparation for the 2019 Masters. — new tab
• John Isner · TennisTennis.com · Comments from John Isner and interviews with his team, by Steve Flink · 10 April 2018 · In EnglishAfter his win in Miami in 2018, John Isner discusses six years of care with his chiropractor, Clint Cordial. He describes support combining adjustments, massage and other techniques within his team. — new tab
• Jerry Rice · American footballChicago Sun-Times · Interview with Sean Jensen · 2011 · In EnglishJerry Rice describes his care with chiropractor Nick Athens during and after his NFL career. The article also notes his role as a spokesperson for the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress, an organisation that promotes chiropractic. — new tab

Within teams and Olympic delegations

Chiropractors work with professional clubs and some Olympic delegations, as part of multidisciplinary teams.

• Paris 2024: a chiropractor selected for the U.S. medical teamDanbury Hat Tricks · Official club announcement · In EnglishThe United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee selected Matt Hartsburg, chiropractor for the Danbury Hat Tricks, for its medical staff at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. — new tab
• San Francisco 49ers: chiropractic within the clubSan Francisco 49ers · NFL · Official directory · In EnglishThe club lists Tomo Harada as a chiropractor and functional performance assistant within its support team. — new tab

Heidi Haavik: the spine, the brain and movement

How does the brain use information from the body to organise movement? This is sensorimotor integration. These studies explore the links between adjustments, body awareness and brain activity.

• Study supported by Jérôme Poupel, among othersHeidi Haavik: brain activity, pain, fatigue and quality of lifeHeidi Haavik et al. · Randomised trial, Brain Sciences · 2024 · In EnglishIn this trial involving 76 people with chronic low back pain, four weeks of care were accompanied by changes in brain activity and reported improvements in pain, fatigue and quality of life. — new tab
• Cervical adjustment and sensorimotor integrationHeidi Haavik-Taylor & Bernadette Murphy · Experimental study, Clinical Neurophysiology · 2007 · In EnglishAfter a cervical adjustment, the study observed temporary changes in the brain's processing of sensory information. It sheds light on communication between the spine and the brain in people with a history of neck discomfort. — new tab
• Proprioception: greater awareness of arm positionHeidi Haavik & Bernadette Murphy · Experimental study, JMPT · 2011 · In EnglishIn participants with a history of neck discomfort, adjustments were followed by more accurate elbow repositioning with the head in certain positions: an observation relating to awareness of body position. — new tab
• The prefrontal cortex and sensory informationDina Lelic, Heidi Haavik et al. · Experimental study, Neural Plasticity · 2016 · In EnglishIn 19 volunteers, one session changed certain brain responses to sensory information, particularly in the prefrontal cortex. These immediate measurements help explore the effect of adjustment on the processing of this information. — new tab
• The choice of adjustment site and the nervous system's responseImran Khan Niazi, Heidi Haavik et al. · Randomised experimental trial, Scientific Reports · 2024 · In EnglishIn 96 adults, an instrument-delivered impulse to a cervical area selected during examination changed a brain marker of sensorimotor integration. This immediate change was not found when the area was predefined independently of the examination. — new tab

Read Heidi Haavik's publications at the Centre for Chiropractic Research — new tab
New Zealand College of Chiropractic · Research archive

Manipulation and exercise: a recommended approach

For certain types of back and neck pain, the guidelines combine manual techniques with active care that includes exercise.

• Low back pain: combining manual therapies and exerciseNICE · Guideline NG59, § 1.2.7 · Updated 2026 · In EnglishFor low back pain with or without sciatica, NICE recommends considering manual therapies, including spinal manipulation, as part of care that includes exercise. — new tab
• Neck pain: manual techniques and neck exercisesBlanpied et al. · Clinical practice guidelines, JOSPT · 2017 · In EnglishFor certain types of neck pain with limited mobility, these guidelines recommend an approach combining manipulation or mobilisation with neck and shoulder exercises. — new tab

Pain and daily activities: clinical studies

These trials and systematic reviews assess pain relief and improvements in daily activities. They examine chiropractic care or manual techniques, with or without exercise depending on the study.

• Low back pain: the benefit of additional chiropractic careGoertz et al. · JAMA Network Open · Multicentre clinical trial, 750 participants · 2018 · In EnglishAmong 750 military personnel with low back pain, adding chiropractic care to usual care led to greater improvements in pain and daily activities at six weeks. These moderate benefits relate to care that may combine manipulation, exercise and other techniques. — new tab
• Neck pain: combining manual therapy and exerciseWilhelm et al. · Systematic review and meta-analysis of 22 studies · 2023 · In EnglishCombining manual therapy and exercise provides a small additional benefit, on average, for pain and difficulties with daily activities compared with exercise alone. — new tab
• Neck pain: benefits of a combined approachChacko et al. · Cochrane review, 9 trials and 694 participants · 2025 · In EnglishIn the short term, the combination may reduce pain and make daily activities easier compared with no treatment. Compared with a sham treatment, there is a benefit for daily activities, with no clear difference in pain. — new tab
• Chronic low back pain: spinal manipulation and mobilisationde Zoete et al. · Cochrane review, 76 trials and 11,866 participants · 2026 · In EnglishManipulation and mobilisation may improve pain and daily activities in the short term. The benefit is greater compared with no treatment and more limited compared with other conservative treatments. — new tab

A recognised and regulated profession in France

The title of chiropractor has been regulated by law since 2002. Its use is restricted to people who meet the training or recognition requirements set out in the legislation.

You can see a chiropractor without a referral. Within their scope of practice, chiropractors are authorised to perform spinal manipulation, including cervical manipulation, without routinely requiring a prior medical certificate confirming the absence of contraindications. These procedures remain subject to regulatory restrictions and an assessment of your circumstances; referral to a doctor is necessary when your situation warrants it.

Special case: for infants under six months, manipulation of the skull, face and spine requires a prior medical diagnosis confirming the absence of contraindications.

• The title of chiropractor and training requirementsLaw no. 2002-303 of 4 March 2002 · Article 75 (French) — new tab
• Permitted procedures and conditions of practiceDecree no. 2011-32 of 7 January 2011 · Consolidated text (French) — new tab
• Cervical manipulation and special casesDecree no. 2011-32 · Article 3 (French) — new tab

To find out how the assessment at the practice works, see your first visit.