Story of Chiropractic
Roots of Chiropractic therapy
“Chiropractic” comes from the Greek words cheir (hand) and praxis (action) and literally means “done by hand.” In contrast to medical care, which focuses on symptoms and disease, chiropractic care focuses on your body’s innate ability to promote wellness & enhance the overall health and functioning. Chiropractors or chiropractic physicians practice a drug-free, hands-on approach to health care. Chiropractors use manual treatments of the spine and joints, exercise therapy, massage, trigger point therapy, and lifestyle changes to allow the body’s natural state of health to fully express itself.
The roots of Chiropractic Care can be traced all the way back to writings from China and in Greece written in 2000-1500 BC. There is mention of spinal manipulation and maneuvering of lower extremities to ease lower back pain. Hippocrates, the great Greek physician who lived in 460-357 BC also prescribed spinal manipulation to many of his patients. In fact, in one of his writings, Hippocrates declares, “Get knowledge of the spine for this is the requisite of many diseases and function.”
The resurgence in modern times
In North America, the practice of spinal manipulation or adjustments gained prominence during the turn of the twentieth century. In 1895, coincidentally the same year that X-Rays were discovered in France, Daniel David Palmer founded the practice of Chiropractic as a profession in Davenport, Iowa. The term “chiropractic” was first coined by D.D. Palmer’s close friend, the Reverend Samuel H. Weed. In 1897, Daniel David Palmer founded The Palmer School of Chiropractic. And so Chiropractic was born.
Non-Invasive Care for Patients
What truly differentiates doctors of chiropractic from any other branch of healthcare is the fact that chiropractors are trained in the detection, location, and correction of the vertebral subluxation complex through chiropractic care. The focus in Chiropractic therapy is to relieve symptoms in a non-invasive manner by correcting the misalignment in the patients’ spine. The word ‘subluxation’ comes from the Latin words meaning ‘to dislocate’ (luxare) and ‘somewhat or slightly’ (sub). So the term ‘vertebral subluxation’ literally means a slight dislocation (misalignment) of the bones in the spine! The word “subluxation’ has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the 1800s. Today the word ‘subluxation’ has changed in meaning and chiropractors use the term ‘Vertebral Subluxation Complex’ (VSC) to capture the complex of neurological, structural and functional changes that occur when a vertebral bone is ‘out of place.’
Numerous studies have demonstrated that chiropractic care is one of the most effective treatments for back pain, neck pain, headaches, whiplash, sports injuries and many other types of musculoskeletal problems. It has even been shown to be effective in reducing high blood pressure, decreasing the frequency of childhood ear infections and improving the symptoms of asthma.
Pulstar Spine Clinic
Chiropractic is so much more than simply a means of relieving pain. In order to this restore the body to its natural state of optimal health, we at Pulstar Spine Clinic use a variety of treatment methods, including manual adjustments, massage, trigger point therapy, nutrition, exercise rehabilitation, massage, as well as counseling on lifestyle issues that impact your health. Our Chiropractors use non-invasive care promoting science based approaches to improve your health in an effort to avoid illness in the first place.
Disclaimer: Although the blog describes scientifically valid information, it is not a substitute for actual medical consultations