Chiropractic manual medicine (in German: Chirotherapie) deals with functional disorders of the musculoskeletal system, especially the spine. Its name comes from the Greek word for hand (cheir). The hand is the chiropractic doctor’s only tool for diagnosis and treatment.
According to the basic idea of chiropractic, almost all physical complaints can be traced back to blockages or misalignments of the joints.
Chiropractic is a fully recognised form of treatment. In Germany, Chirotherapeuten are exclusively doctors who have obtained this additional qualification through further training and an examination. The title is protected by law and the training is standardised.
Chiropractors (Chiropraktiker) also offer manual medicine treatments. However, they are not necessarily doctors; they may also be non-medical practitioners (Heilpraktiker) or physiotherapists with a corresponding diploma.