Chiropractic is a form
of natural health care that focuses on treating a patient without
the use of drugs or medicines. Doctors of
Chiropractic, more commonly known as chiropractors, are primary
health care providers licensed in all 50 states, and are recognized
by governmental health care programs such as Medicare, Medicaid,
Workers' Compensation programs, and more. Every year, more than
30 million Americans see chiropractors as part of the regular health
care programs, and with over 84,000 licensed chiropractors
nationwide and more than 10,000 students currently enrolled in
chiropractic school, it is the fastest growing health care
profession.
A
chiropractor is involved in the treatment and prevention of disease,
as well as the promotion of public health, and a wellness approach
to patient healthcare.
The practice and procedures that are employed by
chiropractors are based on the academic and clinical training
received in and through accredited chiropractic colleges.
Chiropractors
frequently treat individuals with problems such as headaches, joint
pain, neck pain, low back pain and sciatica. Chiropractors also
treat patients with osteoarthritis, spinal disk conditions, carpal
tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, sprains, and strains. However, the
scope of conditions that chiropractors manage or provide care for is
not limited to the common pains and problems listed above.
Chiropractors also have the training to treat a variety of
conditions such as allergies, asthma, digestive disorders, and other
disorders as new research is developed.
History of
Chiropractic Care
The roots of chiropractic care can be traced all the
way back to the beginning of recorded time. Writings from China and
Greece written in 2700 B.C. and 1500 B.C. mention spinal
manipulation and the maneuvering of the lower extremities to ease
low back pain. Hippocrates, the Greek physician, who lived from 460
to 357 B.C., also published texts detailing the importance of
chiropractic care. In one of his writings he declares, "Get
knowledge of the spine, for this is the requisite for many
diseases."
In the United States, the practice of spinal
manipulation began gaining momentum in the late nineteenth century.
In 1895, Daniel David Palmer founded the Chiropractic profession in
Davenport, Iowa. Palmer was well- read in medical journals of his
time and had great knowledge of the developments that were occurring
throughout the world regarding anatomy and physiology. In 1897,
Daniel David Palmer went on to begin the Palmer School of
Chiropractic, which has continued to be one of the most prominent
chiropractic colleges in the nation.
Throughout the twentieth century, doctors of
chiropractic gained legal recognition in all fifty states. A
continuing recognition and respect for the chiropractic profession
in the United States has led to growing support for chiropractic
care all over the world. The research that has emerged from "around
the world" has yielded incredibly influential results, which have
changed, shaped and molded perceptions of chiropractic care. The
report, "Chiropractic in New Zealand", published in 1979 strongly
supported the efficacy of chiropractic care and elicited medical
cooperation in conjunction with chiropractic care. The 1993 Manga
study published in Canada investigated the cost-effectiveness of
chiropractic care. The results of this study concluded that
chiropractic care would save hundreds of millions of dollars
annually with regard to work disability payments and direct health
care costs.
Doctors of chiropractic have become pioneers in the
field of non-invasive care promoting science-based approaches to a
variety of ailments. A continuing dedication to chiropractic
research could lead to even more discoveries in preventing and
combating maladies in future years.
