Chiropractic is a natural health care discipline, focusing on the relationship between the spine and the nervous system. Chiropractic care corrects the mechanical alignment of the spine and the skeletal system, and its goal is to optimise the overall function of the body, resulting in improved health, and absence of pain.
This hands-on therapy helps to alleviate any stresses on the spinal cord (and our nervous system) which a misalignment might be causing. When aligned correctly, our complex and delicate nervous system is able to communicate more freely, sending stronger impulses and signals between the brain and the body. As our nervous system is the body’s main ‘control panel’ regulating all of our organs, glands, muscles, blood vessels and tissues in the body, its optimal functioning is paramount for our health and wellbeing.
Chiropractic does not look to treat only symptoms but to get to the root cause of a problem. Chiropractors use a broad range of methods to diagnose any musculoskeletal problems – they assess our overall health, posture, and our range of movement, taking into consideration not just the spine, but also other joints, and identifying any discrepancies. The treatment itself focuses on aligning the whole body with therapeutic manipulation directed at specific areas of concern, so helping to restore the body’s proper function. Adjustments may be accompanied by the application of heat or ice, rehabilitative exercises, and even counselling about lifestyle factors.
Chiropractic therapy is suitable for all ages.
It is well documented that ancient civilisations refer to spinal manipulations, and even Hippocrates used manipulation in the 5th century BC. The word ‘chiropractic’ comes from the Greek words cheir (meaning ‘hand’) and praktos (meaning ‘done’), i.e. ’done by hand’, and was chosen by the developer of modern chiropractic, Daniel David Palmer(1845-1913). A prolific reader of all things scientific, DD Palmer realised that although various forms of manipulation had been used for thousands of years, no one had developed a philosophical or scientific rationale to explain their effects. Palmer’s major contribution was, therefore, his codification of the philosophy, art and science of chiropractic, which was based on his extensive study of anatomy and physiology.
He performed his initial chiropractic adjustment in September 1895 on a janitor who had become deaf 17 years prior after he felt something “give” in his back. Palmer examined the area and carried out a crude “adjustment” to what was felt to be a misplaced vertebrae in the upper back. The janitor then observed that his hearing improved. Palmer continued to develop chiropractic, and in 1897 opened The Palmer School of Cure.
The 20th century saw the growth and development of chiropractic as a profession world-wide, gaining increasing recognition and respect. Today, it is the third largest independent healthcare profession in the western world, with more than 100,000 active chiropractors currently practising.
