Instrument adjusting training and certification to enhance your practice

by Julie Duck

There’s a reason you spent years in school, learning about the human body, perfecting your chiropractic technique, and enduring countless examinations until you ultimately graduated and achieved licensure – because education, credentials and certifications count. Not only do they ensure that you know what you are doing, they serve as proof of your commitment to doing things right. This is particularly important if you wish to offer instrument adjusting in your practice. Like many techniques and skills that you need in order to practice chiropractic, training and certification in your chosen instrument adjusting method helps to ensure competency and successful patient outcomes.

Certifications, proficiencies, and more

Call them what you will certification, proficiency, or competency – it’s all about becoming better at using an adjusting instrument and achieving excellence in technique. Each adjusting instrument manufacturer offers its own training and, for some, this includes the ability to achieve certification.

One such manufacturer of a well-known high-speed electric adjusting instrument offers comprehensive training courses that can ultimately lead to certification in the use of their tool. The training consists of a combination of seminars, online learning and the implementation of the technique in your practice. From there, you will take an exam and if you score well, you are then tested by one of the instructors. Only after passing do you receive certification.

Another renowned adjusting instrument manufacturer teaches its technique in seminars across the country. Their comprehensive program offers hands-on instruction and helps you to meet the requirements it sets for a proficiency rating. After attendance at several instruction seminars, you must pass a written and practical examination with good marks in order to become certified in the technique.

Why do these certification programs ask so much of you?

Because achieving clinical competency ensures proper performance and allows you to have a distinguishing factor among your marketplace competition. The manufacturers who offer such certifications know that the designation means you are thoroughly trained in how to use their product, and that when you use it on your patients you are doing so correctly.

Training… without certification

Training on how to use an adjusting instrument is the most important part of using one. Whether the manufacturer offers certification or not, it is highly recommended that you educate yourself as much as possible about the particular instrument you use, to ensure that patients get the most benefit from it.

Several adjusting instrument manufacturers offer their own training systems. Some are part of a more vast collection of methods and tools that work together to correct spinal misalignments, offering online training courses. A few others offer a seminaronly training route. Still, many manufacturers provide training DVDs, instruction manuals and online courses that complement your own schedule.

For those who wish to train beyond the books and DVDs, there are also postgraduate programs and seminars available through various chiropractic schools.

Where the training is

Most chiropractic colleges offer coursework in instrument adjusting that allows students to obtain an overview of the technique. One of the most wellknown instrument adjusting techniques taught in school moves students through various protocols in order to understand the method, how to evaluate and test the patient, and then utilize the tool for the adjustment. Such courses permit the student to gain proficiency with instrument adjusting, and go on to perfect their technique – and achieve certification after graduation.

Additionally, several of the chiropractic colleges offer postgraduate training courses on instrument adjusting. You can also find more continuing education opportunities in instrument adjusting at regional chiropractic conventions, as well as individual training seminars that tour various cities across the nation.

Be the very best

If you’re thinking about adjusting instrument certification, or just want more training on how to use your tools, you are making strides toward improving not only your skill, but also the reputation of the chiropractic profession. By taking excellence and making it your own, you demonstrate a commitment to giving patients options in their care. Be the very best today and look into the benefits of the training and certifications available for instrument adjusting.

Julie Duck is the former editor of Chiropractic Products and a healthcare writer with more than 16 years of experience. She can be reached by email at weeduck@cox.net.