Manual medicine/chirotherapy
In Germany, manual medicine and chiropractic therapy is a protected additional medical qualification that may only be held by physicians who have completed extensive postgraduate training after licensure and passed a corresponding examination administered by their State Chamber of Physicians.
Physician-led manual medicine/chirotherapy must be clearly distinguished from non-physician chiropractic practice. Non-physician chiropractors in Germany are not subject to a uniformly regulated medical education and do not hold a completed medical degree.
Manual medicine/chiropractic therapy is based on sound medical diagnostics. Prior to any treatment, a thorough medical examination is conducted to identify the causes of symptoms, rule out risks, and safely integrate the therapy into a comprehensive treatment concept.
The goal of manual medicine/chiropractic therapy is to treat functional disorders of the musculoskeletal system—such as joint restrictions, limited mobility, and muscular tension—using targeted, precise techniques, always taking into account medical interrelationships, possible comorbidities, and individual patient factors.
The additional medical qualification ensures a well-founded clinical assessment of the symptoms as well as the safe and responsible application of manual techniques, embedded within a holistic orthopedic treatment approach.
