Chiropractic History and more information
Chiropractic care has been a part of medicine for thousands of years and
found throughout history around the world. A Canadian, D.D. Palmer, living in
Davenport, Iowa, started the modern chiropractic era in 1895. He and later his
son, B.J. Palmer, recognized the link between spinal adjustments and improved
health. D.D. Palmer coined the term ‘chiropractic’ from chiro (greek for
‘hand’) and praktikos (greek for ‘to do’ or ‘efficient’) helping establish
chiropractic in 1900’s.
Chiropractic care focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health, including, but not limited to, back pain, neck pain, joint pain, even muscle strains and headaches.
Doctors of Chiropractic practice a conservative, all natural, hands-on approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment. Chiropractors have broad diagnostic skills and are also trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as well as to provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling. After their undergraduate degree, their chiropractic education is an intensive 4-year study that includes, but not limited to, human anatomy, physiology, pathology and chiropractic techniques. The Doctorate of Chiropractic is considered a first professional degree similar to other specialties such as medicine, dentistry and optometry.
Upon graduation, there is a requirement to pass national and provincial board examinations before beinglicensed to practice. Ongoing continuing education provides chiropractors with seminars and conferences to learn about new research is required to renew these licenses.
The most common therapeutic procedure performed by doctors of chiropractic is known as “chiropractic adjustment” or “manipulation”. The purpose of manipulation is to restore joint motion or position by manually applying a controlled force into joints that have become restricted in their movement –often as a result of a tissue injury. Tissue injury can be caused by a single traumatic event, such as improper lifting of a heavy object, or through repetitive stresses, such as sitting in an awkward position with poor spinal posture for an extended period of time. In either case, injured tissues undergo physical and chemical changes that can cause inflammation, pain, and diminished function for the sufferer. A chiropractic adjustment of the affected joint and treatment of the surrounding tissues restores mobility, thereby alleviating pain and muscle tightness, and ultimately allowing tissues to heal.
Chiropractic adjustment rarely causes discomfort. However, patients may sometimes experience mild soreness or aching following treatment (as with some forms of exercise or massage) that usually resolves within 12 to 48 hours.
Chiropractors may assess patients through clinical examination, laboratory testing, diagnostic imaging and other diagnostic interventions to determine when chiropractic treatment is appropriate or when it is not appropriate. Chiropractors will readily refer patients to the appropriate health care provider when chiropractic care is not suitable for the patient’s condition, or the condition warrants co-management in conjunction with other members of the health care team.
The main chiropractic treatment technique involves manual (doing with hands) therapy, including manipulation of the spine, other joints, and soft tissues; treatment also includes exercises and health and lifestyle counseling. It emphasizes diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, especially the spine. These mechanical abnormalities are defined by the World Health Organization as "a dysfunction in a joint or motion segment in which alignment, movement integrity and/or physiological function are altered, although contact between joint surfaces remains intact." Chiropractic is generally categorized as a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
Chiropractic care focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health, including, but not limited to, back pain, neck pain, joint pain, even muscle strains and headaches.
Doctors of Chiropractic practice a conservative, all natural, hands-on approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment. Chiropractors have broad diagnostic skills and are also trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as well as to provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling. After their undergraduate degree, their chiropractic education is an intensive 4-year study that includes, but not limited to, human anatomy, physiology, pathology and chiropractic techniques. The Doctorate of Chiropractic is considered a first professional degree similar to other specialties such as medicine, dentistry and optometry.
Upon graduation, there is a requirement to pass national and provincial board examinations before beinglicensed to practice. Ongoing continuing education provides chiropractors with seminars and conferences to learn about new research is required to renew these licenses.
The most common therapeutic procedure performed by doctors of chiropractic is known as “chiropractic adjustment” or “manipulation”. The purpose of manipulation is to restore joint motion or position by manually applying a controlled force into joints that have become restricted in their movement –often as a result of a tissue injury. Tissue injury can be caused by a single traumatic event, such as improper lifting of a heavy object, or through repetitive stresses, such as sitting in an awkward position with poor spinal posture for an extended period of time. In either case, injured tissues undergo physical and chemical changes that can cause inflammation, pain, and diminished function for the sufferer. A chiropractic adjustment of the affected joint and treatment of the surrounding tissues restores mobility, thereby alleviating pain and muscle tightness, and ultimately allowing tissues to heal.
Chiropractic adjustment rarely causes discomfort. However, patients may sometimes experience mild soreness or aching following treatment (as with some forms of exercise or massage) that usually resolves within 12 to 48 hours.
Chiropractors may assess patients through clinical examination, laboratory testing, diagnostic imaging and other diagnostic interventions to determine when chiropractic treatment is appropriate or when it is not appropriate. Chiropractors will readily refer patients to the appropriate health care provider when chiropractic care is not suitable for the patient’s condition, or the condition warrants co-management in conjunction with other members of the health care team.
The main chiropractic treatment technique involves manual (doing with hands) therapy, including manipulation of the spine, other joints, and soft tissues; treatment also includes exercises and health and lifestyle counseling. It emphasizes diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, especially the spine. These mechanical abnormalities are defined by the World Health Organization as "a dysfunction in a joint or motion segment in which alignment, movement integrity and/or physiological function are altered, although contact between joint surfaces remains intact." Chiropractic is generally categorized as a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
