podiatry vs. chiropractic

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dddunit

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*please do not bash any of the careers*

I am currently deciding between the two careers. Can you guys please list the pros and cons of both careers? Thanks.
 
One is widely accepted by the medical community and the other is...oh wait...

One gives extreme status in society and the other...hmmmm...

One is an easy road to fame and fortune and the other...boy...


How about, one is funny and the other is not?



All I know about chiropractic comes from seeing a few different DC's as a patient. The providers were all a little on the holistic-flaky side (not saying all chiropracters are, but the ones I met were) and their treatments were based on anecdote more than evidence.
 
As a podiatrist you will be practicing MEDICINE. Pod school is longer and harder* though (up to 7 yrs. vs. 2). As a chiropractor you are nothing more than a glorified massage therapist. Sorry, but the vertebrae that make up your spine cannot be "manipulated" (we would be extinct)...however, the soft tissue surrounding it can be. I love messages though so I'd go with the Chiro gig :laugh:


*That's what phillypd said
 
He said no bashing, but wait. *This is the pod forum*

MUAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAH

Do we have have a chiropractic thread on SDN? I always was confused as to why people consider chiropractors doctors but not pharmacists.
 
I always figured chiros were massage therapists that could tell you about multivitamins and get paid like 4X more than regular massage therapists...i mean come on you go to school for 2 years and then you are Dr. so and so-please
 
dddunit said:
*please do not bash any of the careers*

I am currently deciding between the two careers. Can you guys please list the pros and cons of both careers? Thanks.
Click to expand...

IMO both can be rewarding carreers. BUT...

Podiatry has more of a "guarentee" or likely hood of finding a decent paycheck when you graduate school. Chiropracters have to work really hard to find ways to pay off their bills (sometimes un-ethically). Some chiropracters have really well paying practices and have no problems with this, but its just more of a "chance" than podiatry.

Drive down "main street" and count how many chiropractic vs. podiatric offices there are.... Chiropracters are everywhere which means being succesful is that much harder.

Alot of people bash on Chiropracters, but alot of people bash on podiatrists too. Chiropracters more than likely get it more than a podiatrist but really the carreer is yours and you shouldn't care what others think/say.
 
"i forgot my rain coat"

"thats okay, I am VERY pro-choice"
 
dddunit said:
*please do not bash any of the careers*

I am currently deciding between the two careers. Can you guys please list the pros and cons of both careers? Thanks.
Click to expand...

Be proactive about the issue and shadow professionals in each of the two fields and see which rocks your boat more than the other. It seems that both fields have their good pros. I wasn't very familiar with the field of podiatry until I noticed how many referrals my attending was giving for the podiatrist next door to his PCP practice. Good business for the fella.

As far as chiro. is concerned, there are patient that swear about it to their MD's.
 
Not bashing, but I believe Chiro is 4 years long and post-undergrad. The degree is called a DC (doctor of chiropractic). A residency is not required but I heard of a few that exist (some even 3 years in length). Definitely is not the norm though. I knew a few people from my college who went to chiro school...
 
JEWmongous said:
The degree is called a DC (doctor of chiropractic). A residency is not required but I heard of a few that exist (some even 3 years in length).
Click to expand...

Yep, here is a nice article from pubmed describing one of the first residency programs in chiro., and their attempt, at the time, to make it work for the future of the field.
 
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Only one chiropractic school requires a bachelor's degree for admission, and most programs are 2 years, but can go as long as 4.
 
I know there is a radiology residency available for chiropractors.
 
I guess my concerns about the two professions is as follows:

For chiropractic I am worried about its job outlook. I hear alot of chiropractors struggle after finishing school.

For podiatry I worry about the schooling and residency. I mean I am willing to go through it but it definitely is a journey. How does the outlook for podiatry look?

Thanks guys for the replies!
 
Of the two which gives the best lifestyle (family, etc.)?
 
dddunit said:
I guess my concerns about the two professions is as follows:

For chiropractic I am worried about its job outlook. I hear alot of chiropractors struggle after finishing school.

For podiatry I worry about the schooling and residency. I mean I am willing to go through it but it definitely is a journey. How does the outlook for podiatry look?

Thanks guys for the replies!
Click to expand...

I can only comment on pods because I don't know anything about chiro.

Podiatry is evolving. There have been huge leaps over the last few decades with our training so, naturally, the road isn't entirely smooth. As for a negative point that you may hear - residency shortage for the class of 2010. I think that combatting this requires work from all aspects of podiatric medicine; schools, AACPM, APMA, APMSA, all our leadership. I have been hearing of some steps that the APMA is taking to tackle the issue. Whether or not you agree with those steps is another issue.

A positive point - I like that I am part of podiatry now. Our education is the best it has ever been, residents are graduating as experts of the foot and ankle, and I feel like I will be able to balance my life with my work in this profession.

It IS a long time to spend on your education, but I think it's worth it.
 
To my knowledge chiropractic schools are a 4 year cirriculum. Please post a link to a 2 year school if I'm wrong. It is true that most do not require a bachelor's degree, but neither does anymedical, dental, opto, or pod medical school. The major thing that I consider a con of chiro school is funding...no national health service, no indian health service, no military scholarships; just loans. Another flaw of chiropractic is their philosophy. It's not evidence-based medicine. It makes people "feel good", like massage or physicial therapy. Truth is, I think physical therapy is more evidence based than chiro. Chiropractic also pitches the idea that it is an evolving career, just like podiatry. Truth is, chiropractors can make a lot of money, if they are good businessmen/women. Chiropractors have to hustle for patients because most PCPs will not refer their patients to them. Most chiropractors that do well are "ambulance chasers". The ones that provide care for patients who are filing insurance claims for auto or work-related accidents. That's their bread and butter.
 
lol whatever happened to not bashing the two professions.

I believe both are respectable. Both are alot easier to get into compared to MD/DO/Dental

I think you can make a decent salary, but I know chiros have to work hard to, very hard to crack 100k.

Podiatrists on the other had do have easier time make a good salary, especially when they get a good surgery residency, but on the flip side they have harder and longer school.

try googling some info, also the BLS handbook provides some pretty unbiased info. but just remember to talk to a chiro and a podiatrist.
 
Pods:
treatments are evidence-based, easily integrated within the medical community. our services are actually needed.

Chiros:
largely anecdotal treatments, the general medical community look at them as quacks. services are not really needed.
 
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There is a really good article out there on how chiropractic medicine should follow the podiatric model, as it relates to natural progression and acceptance into the medical community. Just punch chiropractic and podiatry into the yahoo or google search engine.
 
dropfoot said:
There is a really good article out there on how chiropractic medicine should follow the podiatric model, as it relates to natural progression and acceptance into the medical community. Just punch chiropractic and podiatry into the yahoo or google search engine.
Click to expand...

its been posted on these forums before.
 
Chiro will eventually follow DPM, as DPM has followed DO's, who followed MD's in establishing standards/education, etc. Only a matter of time before they ALL become peers.
 
-DPM's train future DPM's, MD's and DO's and resident physicians (DPM's, MD's and DO's). The same can be said of MD's and DO's.

- Podiatric medical program's are often fully integrated within health systems or university hospitals. I am not aware of any chiropractic program that is fully integrated within a health system or university hospital. I do know of an 8 week clinical rotation that is offered at a VA Hospital in Texas for Parker College Chiropractic students and an internship program where Texas Chiropractic College students rotate at different hospitals -- a model the school came up with in 1985.

- DPM vs.DC

Undergrad(4 yrs. average accepted) vs.Undergrad

MCAT vs. N/A

4 years Pod. school vs. 4 years Chiro. school

3 yrs. residency vs. N/A

To become vs. N/A
a Diplomate
(Board Certified)
is rigorous;
(must continually
re-certify to
maintain board
certified status)

Clinical exposure vs. Clinical exposure not as intense
very intense and
in-depth



As someone said, both professions are still evolving. But the fact is Chiropractic is still considered alternative or complementary medicine. Podiatry is a branch or subspecialty of mainstream medicine/surgery.
 
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It seems that many chiropractors are feed up with the so called "dubious aspects" of the field. This is definitely a good first step in releasing the anchor that has held chiropractic back for many years. I have had some friends through the years that became chiropractors, and they all seemed to have a good head on their shoulders, as well as a good vision for the future of chiropractic medicine. Personally, i hope they do succeed and gain proper social recognition. After all, doesn't all branches of medicine have a few bones in their closets.
 
This is a good topic. I've thought of both. I could go either way. I like chiro due to the whole body & fitness/nutrition/herbs aspect. Let's face it, alt meds is a HUGE business. You realize, that business remains the optimal word here. Even if you want to "save the world by going into medicine", you'll still need to make a living & pay loans back.

I know chiro's can make good money (as can pods). But chiro is catching on with baby boomers fed up with mainstream drugs & surgery. True you can't treat all lesions with chiro but neither can pods. In some ways chiro treats MORE things than does pods. (Other than the sham artists treating Aids, diabetes, etc.) It's a matter of personal choice. (Yeah I know you're saying, "get to hell out then & choose chiro!") 😛

I wish it were that easy. I'm exploring both possiblities to see what makes the BEST economic sense longeterm, along with my interests/desires.
 
GymMan said:
This is a good topic. I've thought of both. I could go either way. I like chiro due to the whole body & fitness/nutrition/herbs aspect. Let's face it, alt meds is a HUGE business. You realize, that business remains the optimal word here. Even if you want to "save the world by going into medicine", you'll still need to make a living & pay loans back.

I know chiro's can make good money (as can pods). But chiro is catching on with baby boomers fed up with mainstream drugs & surgery. True you can't treat all lesions with chiro but neither can pods. In some ways chiro treats MORE things than does pods. (Other than the sham artists treating Aids, diabetes, etc.) It's a matter of personal choice. (Yeah I know you're saying, "get to hell out then & choose chiro!") 😛

I wish it were that easy. I'm exploring both possiblities to see what makes the BEST economic sense longeterm, along with my interests/desires.
Click to expand...

The problem is chiro's don't practice evidence based medicine...
 
PodunkUDPM said:
The problem is chiro's don't practice evidence based medicine...
Click to expand...
But if the treatment "works" in the eyes of a patient, then they'll comeback & be your pt. for life. I don't care HOW I cure or treat an illness, so long as the pt. improves or get better & thus benefits from it.

100 yrs ago we knew little of meds, yet Osteopathy worked for some people but not others, depending on the disease. I'm not saying chiro OR pods treats everything, just as much as there's a place for pods there's room for "other" ailments suited to chiro. You can't relieve a pinched nerve by adjusting the spine -- as a DPM -- anymore than you can remove a bunion via surgery -- as a chiro. It's about balance. All vanilla ice cream & no chocolate, would be an imbalance at Baskin Robbins, yes? 😛

You need BOTH (& more practitioner's/specialists in their art) to encompass all disease people can get.
 
Even though evidence-based medicine appeals to me on an intellectual basis, and I'd certainly prefer it, I'll play devil's advocate for a second.

Evidence-based medicine is only as good as the evidence you collect. Sometimes, you don't have all the evidence, and then you're doing things based on intuition. Lots of older doctors (in any field) have experienced this. A new study comes out recommending ABC, but for years, they treated with XYZ and it always worked, so why change?

Even though I would never consider chiro (as a career or as a patient), people seem to like it, and you can't argue with results.
 
without ANY evidence though, how could it be considered any better than snake oil or some other modality?
 
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Adam Smasher said:
Even though evidence-based medicine appeals to me on an intellectual basis, and I'd certainly prefer it, I'll play devil's advocate for a second.

Evidence-based medicine is only as good as the evidence you collect. Sometimes, you don't have all the evidence, and then you're doing things based on intuition. Lots of older doctors (in any field) have experienced this. A new study comes out recommending ABC, but for years, they treated with XYZ and it always worked, so why change?

Even though I would never consider chiro (as a career or as a patient), people seem to like it, and you can't argue with results.
Click to expand...

Been to a pod 2x as pt., to check a toe that was hematoma & to get cortisone shot in arches for plantar fasc.

Was at chiro's for yrs w/ bad back from lifting. Felt great w/ the right DC. Been to 4 DC's, one was great, one ok & 2 didnt help alot/much. Had friends been to many DC's (lots of lifters,workout guys, etc) yet very few have ever seen a DPM.

Just my experiences.
 
GymMan said:
Been to a pod 2x as pt., to check a toe that was hematoma & to get cortisone shot in arches for plantar fasc.

Was at chiro's for yrs w/ bad back from lifting. Felt great w/ the right DC. Been to 4 DC's, one was great, one ok & 2 didnt help alot/much. Had friends been to many DC's (lots of lifters,workout guys, etc) yet very few have ever seen a DPM.

Just my experiences.
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Once after working out without stretching I threw out my back and literally couldn't walk upright. I went to the DC and magically I could function. So evidence based or not DC's have helped me and I will continue to return to them for my back pain. I wouldnt choose it as my career path though, but thats a personal judgment.
 
dyk343 said:
Once after working out without stretching I threw out my back and literally couldn't walk upright. I went to the DC and magically I could function. So evidence based or not DC's have helped me and I will continue to return to them for my back pain. I wouldnt choose it as my career path though, but thats a personal judgment.
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DC will get you good $. Will give you a great life. So will DPM. But you get out 3 yrs ealry in DC. No residency. I dont know but its not a bad gig.
 
Ok, I think we tend to criticize the professions that we do not understand well.

I use to bash the chiropractors about being massage therapists, but what stops people from thinking that podiatrists only cut nails, like in pedicure spas? When someone I'm related to 🙂D) finished completing her first and second year at chiropractic school, I was looking over her course materials, and I was in shock. Apparently, chiropractors take the same basic sciences, anatomy, biomechanics, etc. courses and very similar to most medical/dental schools. They go through 4-years of school, and many of the current students that I know, are taking extra courses, such as acupuncture. The chiropractic school kicked out almost half the students who failed exams and courses, similar to podiatric schools. If you are not capable of passing the exams on materials needed in the profession, I agree with the school deans. My point here is: all professions, regardless are tough and require commitment/dedication.

The chiropractic students work very hard like other medical students, and although the stated average salary is not comparable to the average salary of podiatrists, I learned to keep my mouth shut and respect them. We will need to work with the DC's in the future. 😎

Good luck deciding on chiropractic or podiatric schools. Both professions are needed in the medical fields.
 
StaphRx said:
Ok, I think we tend to criticize the professions that we do not understand well.

I use to bash the chiropractors about being massage therapists, but what stops people from thinking that podiatrists only cut nails, like in pedicure spas? When someone I'm related to 🙂D) finished completing her first and second year at chiropractic school, I was looking over her course materials, and I was in shock. Apparently, chiropractors take the same basic sciences, anatomy, biomechanics, etc. courses and very similar to most medical/dental schools. They go through 4-years of school, and many of the current students that I know, are taking extra courses, such as acupuncture. The chiropractic school kicked out almost half the students who failed exams and courses, similar to podiatric schools. If you are not capable of passing the exams on materials needed in the profession, I agree with the school deans. My point here is: all professions, regardless are tough and require commitment/dedication.

The chiropractic students work very hard like other medical students, and although the stated average salary is not comparable to the average salary of podiatrists, I learned to keep my mouth shut and respect them. We will need to work with the DC's in the future. 😎

Good luck deciding on chiropractic or podiatric schools. Both professions are needed in the medical fields.
Click to expand...

Well said; to earn the respect of other professions, we must respect other professions.👍
 
Staph(infection)Rx you are missing the point. Nobody said that chiro schools don't put their students through tough courses. The fact of the matter is that chiro's do not practice evidence based medicine. There are few if any articles proving that manipulation of the spine (to the extent of which many chiro's believe) is possible. It's not the individuals so much as the profession itself.
 
After nearly 3yrs someone wants to bring this topic up?????

Feet may be gross but at least when you are talking to one of your neighbors at a party you don't have sound ashamed to say "I am a foot and ankle doctor, or a Podiatrist" (b/c I have realized lately that even when I say PODIATRY to my friends they think "Oh, you wanna work for sick and hurt children, that is great." Not realizing that I didn't say Pediatrician.

But try talking to a friend saying you are a Chiropractor. You will get a much different reaction than you say you are a "Foot and Ankle surgeon" (if you do work on surgery of the foot). But if you are a chiropractor you can ONLY say "I am a chiropractor" nothing else.

Also, D.O's practice the same techniques Chiropractors do. A DO is just as qualified as a Chiropractor and they only spend half a semester doing what it takes a Chiropractor 2+yrs to get certified.

Be a Doctor or be a certified chiropractor. Difficult choice there
 
Interesting... had a patient with a (previously unknown) CN coalition today. She had been seeing a chiropractor to "pop the navicular back into place" for 6 months.

Well... the last 2 weeks it flared up and was incredibly edematous/painful. It was the first time she had had an X-ray but the coalition had been (recently) fractured. We suspect it was from the chiropractor but could not be 100% certain. Denied trauma/excessive exercise/abnormal exercise/change in activity

I think they should stick to the back. Not the foot.
 
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chiro = unemployed, super in debt, 4 years of voodoo

podiatry = career as a foot doctor, ability to do cool f/a surgeries

real question should be pod vs. DO because if you are interested in manipulation that's the route to go (and my vote would be md... lol)
 
hughesn2 said:
After nearly 3yrs someone wants to bring this topic up?????

Feet may be gross but at least when you are talking to one of your neighbors at a party you don't have sound ashamed to say "I am a foot and ankle doctor, or a Podiatrist" (b/c I have realized lately that even when I say PODIATRY to my friends they think "Oh, you wanna work for sick and hurt children, that is great." Not realizing that I didn't say Pediatrician.

But try talking to a friend saying you are a Chiropractor. You will get a much different reaction than you say you are a "Foot and Ankle surgeon" (if you do work on surgery of the foot). But if you are a chiropractor you can ONLY say "I am a chiropractor" nothing else.

Also, D.O's practice the same techniques Chiropractors do. A DO is just as qualified as a Chiropractor and they only spend half a semester doing what it takes a Chiropractor 2+yrs to get certified.

Be a Doctor or be a certified chiropractor. Difficult choice there
Click to expand...

DO's and chiro don't do the same manipulations for the most part as far as I know. I mean as a category it's all manual medicine and it all seems pretty borderline between placebo and effective but they don't do the same things.

DO's and the various forms of PT do a lot of the same stuff. The stuff chiro's do is way more violent.
 
This guy was a little creepy when he placed the girl's foot between his legs near his crotch.
 
PADPM said:
This guy was a little creepy when he placed the girl's foot between his legs near his crotch.
Click to expand...

The guy was a little creepy throughout that whole video...what the heck did I just watch?
 
I bet half the patients I see everyday in surgery (for spine) have been to the chiropractor to try and avoid surgery and almost everyone of them tell me in pre-op that they think it was a joke...I really don't care one way or the other, but I thought that I had to share when I read this post...
 
zdlamkin8195 said:
I bet half the patients I see everyday in surgery (for spine) have been to the chiropractor to try and avoid surgery and almost everyone of them tell me in pre-op that they think it was a joke...I really don't care one way or the other, but I thought that I had to share when I read this post...
Click to expand...

While I'm not pro or anti-chiro, the patients who are in for surgery are the ones who chiropractic didn't work for, so of course they say it's a joke.
 
Everything has its place...and each field has its limits. Medicine and surgery cannot do what physiotherapy can do, for example. There is a place for manipulative therapy. And I bet the patients who received surgery after seeing a chiro were severe-or they saw a quack.

The problem with chiro is that the quality of your treatment directly relates to the practitioner, unlike in med world where antibiotic is antibiotic (not so much for surgery). And some practitioners will pander voodoo healing capabilities that only harms the profession. Finally, there is no medicine in chiropractic-pointe finale. Even so, when ethically practiced, chiro has its place. As future/current podiatrists, we can't bash little brother knowing that big brother (MD) bashes on us-at least in the premed world. This just invites bad karma
 
chiro = unemployed, super in debt, 4 years of voodoo

podiatry = career as a foot doctor, ability to do cool f/a surgeries

real question should be pod vs. DO because if you are interested in manipulation that's the route to go (and my vote would be md... lol)
Click to expand...

I am a licensed chiropractor who practiced a spine orthopedic surgeons office. I decided that I wanted to practice an integrative medicine,and wanted to have learn surgery related to biomechnics. So I have been in Podiatric School for about 1 yr now.

Choose whatever you believe. Chiropractic is not a voodoo or based on belief system. it is based on science. We still go through 4 years of doctoral level chiropractic school. During this 4 yrs, we are NOT taught religion or foolish dogmas. But we learn anatomy, physiology, radiology, physical diagnose etc. Chiropractic is a rewarding career as just like Medicine or Podiatry. Many of my buddies are doing quite well financially and helping people on daily basis just like any other healthcare providers.

One more thing. DO's spinal manipulation and DC's spinal adjustment are quite different. The theory behind it is quite different, how we approach things are different. How we treat patients are very different. If you are interested in Manipulation and want to learn medicine, go to DO school, if you are interested in spinal adjustment and holistic aspect of health, go to DC school
 
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