What is Chiropractic Medicine?
The word Chiropractic is derived from the Greek terms, ‘cheir’ meaning hand and ‘praktos’ meaning done. Chiropractic = ‘done by hand’
Chiropractic was born in 1895 with D.D. Palmer when he adjusted a patient that was immediately relieved of his hearing loss. Realizing the power and value of this technique, he began a school in Iowa in 1897 called Palmer College of Chiropractic. Many schools since then have come into being all over the United States and the world.
Traditionally this medical art was exclusively performed by hand only, utilizing manual manipulation to create normal motion in any joint of the body. Since the spine is the place where all information is collected and distributed, any decreased joint motion can cause abnormal signals to fire throughout the body causing sensations of pain, stiffness, and even digestive complaints.
In the modern era, Chiropractic Physicians are now employing many other methods to help bring health and wellness to those who are in need. This may include:
- Extraspinal manipulation: adjusting joints in the body other than traditional area of the spine
- Soft Tissue manipulation: essentially massage or bodywork to loosen up tightened muscles or to strengthen weakened muscles
- Physiotherapy modalities: hot/cold packs, TENS, electro-stimulation, ultrasound, cold/infrared laser to help decrease pain, heal affected areas and/or
- Rehabilitation: controlled exercises that facilitate normal joint motions to strengthen and balance the muscles of the body.
- Nutrition: dietary recommendations given to those that are deficient in essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals to help speed along the recovery of an individual.