What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic comes from the Greek word "Chiropraktikos" meaning "effective treatment by hand." Chiropractic emphasizes the idea that the cause of many disease processes begins with the body's inability to adapt to its environment. Instead of addressing the symptoms of disease with drugs or surgery, chiropractors are the only professionals who are trained to diagnose and treat spinal subluxations.
The word “subluxation” comes from the Latin words meaning “somewhat or slight" (sub) and “to dislocate” (luxate). A subluxation simply means a misalignment of the vertebral bones in the spine.
A subluxation in the spine results in pressure or irritation on a spinal nerve causing disruption of the nerve flow. This nerve irritation results in the messages or information traveling through the nerve to become distorted with the end result of symptoms.
Subluxations and resulting symptoms get progressively worse over time if they are not corrected. This will lead to musculoskeletal complaints such as chronic pain, inflammation, arthritis, muscle trigger points, the formation of bone spurs, loss of movement, as well as muscle weakness and spasms. Chiropractors know the dangers of the vertebral
subluxation not only to your spine but to your nerve system and overall health and are the only health professionals trained in the detection, location, and correction of the vertebral subluxation.
History of Chiropractic:
The Chiropractic profession began in 1895 when Daniel David Palmer restored the hearing of Harvey Lillard by performing an adjustment to his spine. Dr. Palmer recorded his experiences and successes with adjustments and shortly later began the Palmer School of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa to train others in this skill.
Even before this, manual manipulations and care of spine were recorded. Hippocrates, the famous Greek physician who lived from 460 to 357 B.C., published a text detailing the importance of manual manipulation. In one of his writings he declares, "Get knowledge of the spine, for this is the requisite for many diseases." Ancient recordings from China and Greece dating between 2700 B.C. and 1500 B.C. describe spinal manipulation and the maneuvering of the lower extremities to ease back pain.
Since its inception over 100 hundred years ago, the Chiropractic profession has gained considerable recognition and support from the scientific community. Numerous research studies demonstrate and support the effectiveness, safety and patient satisfaction of Chiropractic care. Today, Chiropractic care continues to be the most commonly used form of natural healthcare. 