Chiropractic was discovered in 1895 by D.D. Palmer and since that time, has become the largest non-drug healing art in the United States. Although practitioners may use a variety of techniques, they primarily perform adjustments to the spine with the goal of restoring normal communication between the brain and the body. Chiropractors respect the knowledge that the body is a self-healing, self-regulating organism; they simply remove the barriers to this healing.
Chiropractors focus on the spine, which houses the nervous system. The nervous system is the control, communication and coordination system of the body. When a vertebra moves out of alignment, it is called a "vertebral subluxation" and may disrupt nerve function to any part of the body that is supplied by the level involved. Chiropractic adjustments help to eliminate this interference, thereby allowing the body to function as it was meant to. Many people initially seek chiropractic care for back or neck pain, however it can also help with asthma, allergies or digestive disorders. In fact, you do not need to have any pain at all to be evaluated by a chiropractor for subluxations, because the body can be malfunctioning without any signs or symptoms. This is the reason that many children get checked by a chiropractor soon after birth. Many mothers want to make sure their baby’s nervous system is free to function at 100 percent, starting from birth.
There are many types of chiropractic healing techniques. Some chiropractic approaches focus on the spine only. Other chiropractors utilize care for other parts of the body, including arms, legs, and muscles. As compared with other forms of healthcare, chiropractic is one of the safest methods of care available. Many chiropractors offer a low-force care approach for those who do not prefer the traditional hands-on style of adjusting. Some chiropractors only work with people until they are out of pain, while others offer wellness-oriented care to help the body function at its highest level.
During the initial visit, chiropractors typically take a health history and perform a physical examination, with a special emphasis on the spine. Other examinations or tests, such as x-rays, may also be performed. If chiropractic adjustment is considered appropriate, a care plan will be developed. During follow-up visits, practitioners may perform one or more of the many different types of adjustments used in chiropractic care. A chiropractic adjustment involves using the hands or a device to apply a controlled, sudden force to a joint. The goal is to increase the range and quality of motion in the area being treated and to aid in restoring health.
The term “chiropractic” combines the Greek words cheir (hand) and praxis (action) to describe a treatment done by hand.
Source: National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine
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