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What is Chiropractic? (article is below this image)
Modern chiropractic began in the late 1800s when Daniel David
Palmer, a self-educated teacher and healer, performed the first spinal
manipulation on a patient. Today, chiropractic is the third largest area
of medicine, next only to dentistry, and is the largest Complementary
and Alternative Medicine (or CAM) health profession.
The word
chiropractic comes from Greek words meaning "treatment by hand", which
is exactly what chiropractors do-they use their hands to manipulate the
body and promote healing and wellness.
The chiropractic philosophy is based on the following belief statements:
All bodily functions are connected and the healing process involves the entire body.
A
healthy nervous system, particularly the spine, is the key to a healthy
body. The spinal cord carries information throughout the body and is
responsible for all bodily functions including voluntary movements (such
as walking) and involuntary functions (such as breathing). When the
systems of the body are in balance, it is called homeostasis. Disorders
of the bones, muscles, and nerves can disrupt homeostasis and increase
the risk of disease and other health problems.
When body systems are in harmony, the human body has the remarkable ability to maintain health and heal itself.
Chiropractors
are medical professionals who diagnose and treat disorders of the
musculoskeletal and nervous systems. They use traditional diagnostic
testing methods (such as x-rays, MRI, and lab work) along with specific
chiropractic techniques that involve hands-on manipulation of the
articulations (joints) of the body. Chiropractors also offer nutrition
and healthy lifestyle counseling. Chiropractors elect not to prescribe
medications, and they do not perform surgery; however, many
chiropractors work closely with medical doctors and will refer a patient
when necessary.
Chiropractors believe one of the main causes of
pain and disease is the misalignment of the vertebrae in the spinal
column (this is called a chiropractic subluxation). Through the use of
manual detection (or palpation), carefully applied pressure, massage,
and manual manipulation of the vertebrae and joints (called
adjustments), chiropractors are able to relieve pressure and irritation
on the nerves, restore joint mobility, and help return the body's
homeostasis. Chiropractic works by restoring your own inborn ability to
be healthy. When under the proper control of your nervous system, all
the cells, tissues, and organs of your body are designed to resist
disease and ill health. The chiropractic approach to better health is to
locate and help remove interferences to your natural state of being
healthy.
A common interference to the nervous system are the 24
moving bones of the spinal column. A loss of normal motion or position
of these bones can irritate or impair the function of the nervous
system. This can disrupt the transmission of controlling nerve impulses.
With improved spinal function, there is often improved nervous system
function.
In Summary: Chiropractic has come a long way since
its beginnings. Today, there are over 50,000 licensed chiropractors
practicing in the United States. Because of its success in treating back
and neck problems and as a result of recent research and changing
attitudes, chiropractic has become more accepted and is now considered
by many to be a part of mainstream Western medicine. In fact, many
hospitals now have chiropractors on staff, and they are a part of the
Medicare/Medicaid systems. Chiropractors are currently being
incorporated into the U.S. military health system. Chiropractors are
also recognized by the court system as expert witnesses in their field.
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