Chiropractic Massage Therapist Job Description, Duties, and Responsibilities

This post presents detailed information on the chiropractic massage therapist job description, including the key duties, tasks, and responsibilities they commonly perform.

It also highlights the major requirements that you may be expected to meet to be hired for the chiropractic massage therapist role.

What Does a Chiropractic Massage Therapist Do?

Chiropractic massage therapists who are also known as chiropractors are experts responsible for treating the entire spine and the musculoskeletal system, which includes nerves, bones, ligaments, muscles, and tendons.

They work in hospitals, physicians’ offices, chiropractic clinics, or engage in private practice. They can specialize in areas such as sports, neurology, orthopedics, pediatrics, or nutrition, among others.

They treat athletes, those injured at work or in a car wreck, and people with chronic back or neck pain.

The chiropractic massage therapist job description entails applying various techniques including spinal manipulation and adjustment, physical therapy, massage therapy, and ultrasound therapy to manage patients’ health concerns.

It also involves using rehabilitative exercise procedures and applying supports such as braces or shoe inserts to treat patients and relieve pain.

Chiropractic massage therapists may offer services such as acupuncture, hair analysis, nutrition counseling, dry needling, and a variety of physiotherapies.

They listen to the patient’s concern and assess their medical condition by reviewing their medical history and performing a physical examination.

They conduct tests to evaluate a patient’s posture; perform x-rays and analyze the patient’s posture, spine, and reflexes to identify health problems.

Their duties include performing a full range of clinical diagnosis and chiropractic treatment for commonly occurring neuromusculoskeletal conditions, including subluxation complex using neuromusculoskeletal therapy, which involves adjusting a patient’s spinal column and other joints by hand.

The role of the therapist also includes administering physical therapy to which includes the application of modalities of heat, cold, light, electricity, and sound in patient treatment area.

They provide counsel to patients in all matters pertaining to health, hygiene, and nutrition; exercise and life style changes; and also prescribe nutritional advice, exercises, and vitamin regimens as treatment plan for their patients.

The chiropractic massage therapist work description also involves monitoring patients’ progress and referring them to other appropriate professionals for further diagnosis and treatment where necessary.

To qualify to work as a chiropractic massage therapist, it is a basic requirement to be licensed and have completed an accredited Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) program from an accredited college.

Besides their medical background, chiropractic massage therapists also need some soft skills to be successful on their job.

They must be able to work as part of a team and have strong communication, relationship building, and documentation skills, as well as having a strong aptitude for learning.

Chiropractic Massage Therapist Job Description Example/Sample/Template

Chiropractors perform various functions in ensuring effective treatment for a number of conditions using manual manipulations of muscles and other soft tissues of the body.

The job description of a chiropractic massage therapist typically consists of the duties, tasks, obligations, and responsibilities shown below:

• Carry out adjustments to the spine or other articulations of the body manually in order to effect correction where necessary to the musculoskeletal system
• Get patients educated as regards the quality of life benefits of routine chiropractic care. Provide a recommended course of treatment
• Maintain several consecutive hours of deep tissue massage
• Provide massages for appointment holders and walk-ins at the facility
• Guide clients through service offerings and help them choose the types of massages that will be most beneficial to them. Design sessions around clients’ specific complaints/problem areas
• Listen effectively to clients during massage sessions and adjust technique to meet their needs
• Suggest massage schedules for recurring sessions
• Help injured patients recover from auto and work injuries
• Give general relaxation massages and provide chiropractic care and education
• Evaluate spine-related (axial) neuro-musculoskeletal conditions and non-axial (extremity) conditions
• Diagnose chiropractic conditions
• Utilize chiropractic manipulation and adjustment to restore joint and related soft tissue function
• Obtain and maintain accurate case histories and records of patients
• Analyze X-rays so as to locate the sources of patients’ difficulties and to rule out fractures or diseases as sources of problems
• Examine patients’ spine and determine nerve function using range of motion, spinal palpation, and orthopedic and neurological tests to determine diagnosis
• X-ray a patient’s spine and extremities to confirm the diagnosis and determine a prognosis
• Plan individual chiropractic treatment programs for patients
• Manipulate the spine and extremities of patients
• Instruct patients in a well planned program of home stretches and exercises
• Utilize a variety of modalities, including inter-segmental, lumbar, and cervical traction, diathermy, cryo-therapy, and ultrasound
• Instruct patients in the use of orthopedic supplies (e.g. cervical pillow, lumbar support, lumbar sacral belt) when necessary
• Work with Chiropractic Assistants and other staff in the provision of treatment to patients
• Respond to report requests by doctors, insurance companies, and lawyers
• Apply the established chiropractic guidelines identified as Guidelines for Chiropractic Quality Assurance and Practice Parameters
• Record every measure of observation that will substantially profile the patient during initial patient interview/ consultation
• Utilize X-ray and standard laboratory tests appropriate to the chiropractic diagnosis and within the MTF’s capabilities as detailed by the standard MTF operating procedures
• Perform standard osseous and soft tissue procedures as commonly taught in Chiropractic College
• Plan and execute training programs and lectures for patients, students, and staff on chiropractic related subjects
• Order orthotics, lifts, collars, and lumbar sacral supports if available at the MTF
• Make consultations with patients by reviewing health/medical histories; questioning, observing and examining patients; and reviewing x-rays, as indicated
• Build positive doctor-patient relationships
• Maintaining accurate and timely patient records
• Protect client information and confidentiality
• Maintain professional and clean appearance of the treatment area
• Effectively communicate with clients and staff.

Chiropractic Massage Therapist Requirements – Skills, Abilities, and Knowledge for Success on the Job

If you are seeking the role of a chiropractic massage therapist in a healthcare facility, you will be expected to possess certain skills, knowledge, experience, and education to be able to carry out the objective, purpose, obligation, and responsibilities of the position effectively.

For most organizations, here are typical requirements you may be expected to meet to be hired for the role of a chiropractic massage therapist:

• Education and Training: They require a Bachelor’s degree from a college accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education; and a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from an accredited chiropractic college
• Possess ability to obtain current Basic Life Support (BLS) Training and certification sponsored or endorsed by the American Heart Association (AHA) and maintain it
• Knowledge: Chiropractors must have strong knowledge of anatomy, physiology, biology, and similar subjects. They also require clinical experience in which they are trained and supervised in spinal assessment, spinal adjustment techniques, and diagnosis
• Licenses: They must possess a current, full, active, and unrestricted license to practice as a doctor of chiropractic
• Decision-making skills: They require sound judgment to determine the best course of action when treating a patient, and to decipher when to refer patients to other health care professionals
• Detail orientation: They require a detail orientation in documenting observations, making proper diagnosis, and analyzing x-ray reports when necessary
• Manual Dexterity: They should be energetic to perform their job, which requires the use of hands to perform manual adjustments to the spine and other joints. They will also be frequently required to stand and reach with hands and arms for prolonged period of time.
• Empathy: They must be understanding and sympathetic to their patients’ problems and needs
• Interpersonal skills: They must be personable to influence clients to complete their therapy schedule and to put their patients at ease during procedures. They need interpersonal skills to build doctor-patient relationship skills
• Communication skills- They require clear and concise communication skills to communicate with clients at initial interview; to educate them and provide relevant counsel to them. It is also important to communicate clearly with other assistants
• Listening skills: Their job involves the evaluation and management of patients, hence it is important for them to develop active listening skills to be able get the most from interviews with their patients
• Team spirit: They must be able to work with other people
• Excellent clinical skills: They require clinical skills to administer both diagnostic and treatment services. They also need knowledge of rehab exercise, and soft tissue techniques
• Apt for learning: They must be coachable and willing to learn on the job as they grow in their career. They also need to maintain continued education.

Conclusion

To hire a chiropractic massage therapists, employer’s need to publish the job description for interested applicants to respond to.

To recruit for this position, employers, HR managers, or recruiters can simply and conveniently create their job description from the detailed sample published in this post.

With the detailed information provided in this article on the duties, skills, responsibilities, etc. of a chiropractic massage therapists, employers are sure to be able to write a good description for the position in their facility, which can aid them in getting the most qualified candidates to recruit for the job.

This post is also a useful and complete guide for those considering a career in chiropractic massage therapy.

They will be able to increase their knowledge of what chiropractic massage therapists do and what they need to succeed in their career.