This is the degree making non-invasive, drug-free cures for spine pain

When you think of the healthcare field, you’ll first think of doctors, nurses, dentists, and physical therapists.

You don’t immediately think of a chiropractor.

For a long time, chiropractic care has long had its skeptics, especially from the medical field.

Since its inception in 1895 by DD Palmer, the profession has struggled to define itself in a way that is understandable, credible, and scientifically coherent.

So why are chiropractors getting a bad rep?

The most common accusation is that many chiropractic practices lack rigorous scientific validation. While there is evidence supporting chiropractic care for specific conditions such as lower back pain, it is still unclear if chiropractic treatment works for other health problems.

Then, there’s the shorter training period.

Meeshanth Gunainthran passion for chiropractic stems from his family of medical practitioners. Source: Meeshanth Gunainthran

It typically takes eight to 10 years to become a fully registered doctor, with additional years of training for specific specialisations. To earn a Doctor of Chiropractic, however, takes three to four years.

Despite the stereotypical claims that chiropractors are “not real doctors”, this didn’t deter Meeshanth Gunainthran from following his calling.

“I think this perception comes from a misunderstanding of what chiropractic is,” the Malaysian student says. “While we’re not medical doctors, we undergo rigorous education and clinical training to diagnose, treat, and manage patients safely and effectively. Our goal is to improve people’s health and quality of life, often working alongside medical doctors and other healthcare providers as part of a collaborative care approach.”

Gunainthran is pursuing a Master of Chiropractic degree at the University of South Wales in the Treforest campus in Cardiff.

He’s honing manual skills and anatomical knowledge, while also training  to collaborate with healthcare professionals and solve complex problems that are hurting a patient’s body, all within the span of four years.

The university is one of the five institutions in the UK that offer the degree at a master’s level. Others include Health Sciences University, London South Bank University, Teesside University, and McTimoney College of Chiropractic.

Chiropractic is about helping someone relieve their pain and improving their quality of life forever. Source: Meeshanth Gunainthran

Why you should pursue a chiropractic master’s degree

Set to complete his master’s degree in June 2026, Gunainthran has come a long way since he first discovered his passion for chiropractic care — thanks to his family of medical practitioners, the very same professions that have criticised chiropractors.

His father and older sister are doctors, and his younger sister is a nurse.

But for Gunainthran, he wanted to do something more hands-on, literally.

“Instead of going down the traditional medical route, I thought about chiropractic,” he says. “I found it really interesting because it’s very hands-on and trying to help people improve their lives without always relying on medications or whatnot.”

An example that cemented his passion for improving lives came in the form of a patient who was in pain all over. Even the slightest touch caused her immense pain.

In the future, Meeshanth Gunainthran hopes to expand his skills by being part of musculoskeletal research and maybe even getting involved in teaching or mentoring. Source: Meeshanth Gunainthran

“I really didn’t know how to do the test because I can’t touch her as well, and she’s just always in pain,” he says. “So I went to get a tutor, and then they basically told me how to try to desensitise her from her pain, try to keep her talking, keep her distracted from us doing the test.”

Now, said patient has improved so much from when Gunainthran saw her last and is coming in for her sixth treatment.

It is instances like these that motivate him to continue building and contributing to the field. And he is not stopping at just being a chiropractor.

In the future, he hopes to expand his skills by exploring musculoskeletal research and maybe even getting involved in teaching or mentoring young hopefuls.