Chiropractic is a branch of the health care sciences and is the third largest primary health care profession in the western world after conventional medicine and dentistry. At present, there are some 60,000 Doctors of Chiropractic in the world and 1,500 in the United Kingdom.
SCA Definition of Chiropractic (Adapted by the SCA from the Association of Chiropractic Colleges) Chiropractic is a primary health care discipline, which emphasizes the inherent recuperative power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery.
The practice of chiropractic focuses on the relationship between the structure (primarily the spine) and function (as coordinated by the nervous system) and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health. In addition, Doctors of Chiropractic recognise the value and responsibility of working in cooperation with other health care practitioners when in the best interest of the patient.
The basic concept of chiropractic relates to the fact that the nervous system controls all organs, tissues and cells of the body. When vital nerve communication pathways are interfered with, as can occur with a variety of structural and / or functional problems in the spine, pain and ill health can be the result. Research both within and outside the chiropractic profession now provides support for this concept.
The Chiropractic profession is often poorly misunderstood. Chiropractic is founded on the scientific premise that the brain and nervous system can deliver its impulses and messages for the proper function of the body’s tissues, organs and systems.
Everyday occurrences, slips and falls can cause the spinal bones to lose their usual motion or position. This misalignment of the vertebrae is called VERTEBRAL SUBLUXTION. The misalignment of the vertebrae can result in nerve interference (decreased nerve function) to the areas of the body that the nerves supply. Symptoms often include but are not limited to, tingling, pain, numbness, or no symptoms at all. This can set off a chain reaction affecting the vertebrae, nerves, muscles, soft tissues and results in degenerative changes throughout the body.
Over 2 million chiropractic adjustments are delivered to patients every day. Adjustments are far safer than muscle relaxers, back surgery or even a single aspirin. People under chiropractic care are among the healthiest in the world, enjoying less medication, hospitalisations and medical doctor visits.
History of Chiropractic
The Chiropractic profession is still relatively young. It dates back to 1895 when it was discovered by Daniel David Palmer (D.D.Palmer). D.D Palmer was born in 1945 in Ontario, Canada and moved to the United States when he was 20. He soon became friendly with a magnetic healer, a popular choice of therapy around that time. A few years later he moved Davenport Iowa and set up his first clinic, ‘Palmer cure and Infirmary’.
Palmer was working late one night when a fire engine went by his office. He realized that the janitor who was working did not flinch at the loud noise of the siren. He approached the janitor and soon realized that he was deaf. Palmer proceeded to communicate with the gentleman and it became clear that the janitor had normal hearing all his life until he bent forward one day and felt a pop in his back from a misaligned vertebrae. Palmer stated “I reasoned that if that vertebra was replaced the man’s hearing should be restored,” he wrote in his notes afterwards. “With this object in view, a half hour’s talk persuaded Mr. Lillard to allow me to replace it. I racked it into position by using the spinous process as a lever, and soon the man could hear as before.”
From there, Palmer went on to see many patients with many different problems by repositioning misaligned vertebrae. He gave it the name chiro (hand), practc (practice or operation) and the chiropractic profession was born.
Obviously the chiropractic profession has advanced vastly since the times of D.D Palmer but the basic understanding and principles remain, by correcting spinal misalignments, removing nerve interference and allowing the nervous system to function to its optimum capacity.
Chiropractic Research
Over 100 years ago, chiropractic health care was founded by Dr. D.D. Palmer. He had a simple theory: that good health can be sustained naturally, without the use of drugs or surgery, by removing vertebral subluxations and allowing the nervous system to function properly.
His theory has stood the test of time. This section will briefly explain how the theory was proven by taking you “behind the scenes”, into the field of chiropractoc research.
1895-Present: Scientifically proven
Since the first Chiropractic adjustment in 1895, the chiropractic profession has rapidly grown to be the third largest field of health care behind medicine and dentistry. The reason for the growth of chiropractic is simple: chiropractic is based on sound, scientific principles that have been proven with thorough research. Investigations and injuries have been conducted worldwide by government agencies, universities, health-care facilities, private and public sector research organizations. The following paragraphs summarize some landmark research studies that have resulted in widespread recognition of chiropractic as a sound health-care choice.
Government of New Zealand
The New Zealand commission report was published in 1979 and was the culmination of two years of interviews from health care experts on the efficacy and safety of chiropractic. The government of New Zealand funded the study, which concluded that modern chiropractic is a “soundly-based and valuable branch of health care in a specialised area”. Wilk, et al, vs. American Medical Association (AMA) lawsuit. Another inquiry that further validated chiropractic came about in 1987 through an antitrust suit filed by four doctors for chiropractic against the AMA. A federal appellate court judge ruled that the AMA had engaged in a “lengthy, systematic, successful and unlawful boycott” of chiropractic. During the legal proceedings, studies comparing chiropractic care to medical care were presented that showed how chiropractors were twice as effective as medical physicians, for comparable injuries, in returning injured workers to work at every level of injury severity.”
Since the court findings and conclusions were released, a growing number of medical practices, hospitals and health care organisations in the United States now include the services of chiropractors.
Ontario Ministry of Health
In 1993, the Ontario Ministry of Health published the Manga report, which was a review of literature on the most effective and cost-effective treatments for low back pain. After reviewing all available international evidence, the researchers concluded that chiropractic is “greatly superior to medical treatment in terms of scientific validity, safety, cost-effectiveness and patient satisfaction.”
The Agency For Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR)
In 1994, the AHCPR of the United States Department of Health and Human Services released guidelines, which were intended to assist primary-care physicians, were developed by a panel of 23 professionals, including medical doctors, chiropractic doctors, nurses, experts in spinal research, and physical therapists. The panel concluded, among other things, that chiropractic treatment (specifically, spinal manipulation) is recommended for acute low back problems in adults and should be pursued (in most cases) before pharmaceutical or surgical treatments.
Chiropractic Training
All Chiropractors must complete a rigorous and detailed education. After completing the necessary pre-med coursework, they begin a four-year program at an accredited college of chiropractic. The chiropractic curriculum includes detailed studies of: anatomy, physiology, X-ray, clinical sciences, spinal biomechanics and adjusting, preventative health care, and many other related topics. By the time of graduation, the average doctor of chiropractic has completed 4,485 classroom hours.