Overview:

Chiropractic is a branch of the healing arts which is concerned with human health and prevention of disease. Chiropractic medicine pays special attention to spinal biomechanics, and musculoskeletal, neurological, vascular and nutritional relationships. Chiropractic has become the second largest primary health care field in the world.

Chiropractic is a holistic therapy which recognizes the overall health of the patient and the body's innate ability to heal itself from physical, mental, and emotional stress and trauma. Chiropractic medicine is concerned with the relationship between the spinal column, afferent and efferent neurons, and the entire nervous system. Just to review, the human nervous system is comprised of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), the autonomic nervous system, and the peripheral nervous sytem (includes the somatic nervous system). All of the body's tissues and organs are connected electically to the spinal column, or backbone, which is protected by twenty-four bones called vertebrae. It is the belief of chiropractic that the misalignment of the spinal cord affects other portions of the body and creates pain, sometimes disease, and other musculoskeletal abnormalities. This firm belief is followed through in diagnosis and treatment; just ask the 15 million Americans who turn to chiropractic physicians ever year to heal physical injury such as lower back pain, neck pain, and certain internal disorders. Chiropractic medicine is an excellent alternative for those who want to avoid surgery for injuries such as loose discs in the neck, slight scoliosis, and out of place vertebrae.

According to chiropractic, pathological disease may be influenced by disturbances of the nervous system. The following factors can contribute to impaired health: genetic/hereditary factors, improper rest, lack of exercise, inadequate and improper nutrition, overindulgence, foods tainted by pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, fertilizers and preservatives, improperly cooked and/or processed foods, contaminated water, air pollution, stress, bodily trauma, and bacteria and viruses. Almost any component of the nervous system may directly or indirectly cause reactions within any other component by means of reflex mediation. Correction of the spinal (manipulative) lesion is imperative for effective management of common functional disorders of motor structure and for pelvic discomfort.

The modern-day system of chiropractic was founded in 1895 by Daniel David Palmer, despite the fact that the practice of spinal adjustment has existed in virtually every ancient civilization, including that of Egypt. Palmer felt that the task of chiropractic was not to treat conditions but to remove nerve interfence caused by subluxations so that the body's inherent capacity to heal itself would be able to take over and restore health and homeostasis. His approach appealed to those who demanded a more natural approach to healing.

Chiropractic medicine has contributed greatly to modern medicine's knowledge of human biology, physiology, and anatomy, specifically of the spine and pelvic areas. Posture, kinesiology, neurology, roentgenology, orthopedics, and osteopathy have been stressed, as has the relationship between structural disorders and mental health.

Method:

The chiropractic physician must be able to diagnose spinal illness as well as a host of cases of dysfunction. The physician might utilize the following procedures in diagnosing and/or treating the patient: spinal adjusting, manipulation, physical rehabilitation, nutritional and psychological counseling, and emergency first aid. The manipulation procedure, arguably the most notable aspect of chiropractic, involves manipulation of the spinal column, soft tissue, and articular functioning. The practice of structural adjustment of the body is what distinguishes chiropractic from other field of medicine. Chiropractic doctors may also refer their patients to specialists in either the field of alternative medicine or western (conventional) medicine for special testing or treatment from time to time.

In a consultation with a patient, the chiropractic physician will ask the patient for a personal health history. He or she will also ask what the patient's chief complaint (general regional area of complaint is the spinal area). The physical examination then comes next, and may include observation, inspection, palpation, percussion, and/or ausculation. The spinal neuromusculoskeletal examination that the doctor will often turn to tests for range of motion, muscle movement, neurological status, biomechanical status and mensuration. At the end of the session, the doctor may mandate that some lab work be done on the patient if he or she is still unsure of what exactly is ailing the patient. A laboratory examination usually consists of bio-analytical procedures, x-ray, roentgenological procedures, physiological instruments procedures, and behavioral testing procedures.

There are several types of structural adjustments that are made by the chiropractic physician. There are several types of chiropractic physicians. There are those who combine chiropractic with other therapies and disciplines (mixers) and those who deal only with locating and removing subluxations (straight chiropractors). Within these two groups there are many variations and subgroups. In addition, a new branch of chiropractic is network chiropractic (spinal analysis). This emerging field advocates the detection of energy fields, suppressed emotions revealed in spinal subluxations, and the body's chakras.

Common cures:

Chiropractic medicine benefits children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly who have the following problems, diseases, and/or conditions:  

Application:

Recently, it has been suggested in the Journal of the American Chiropractic Association that acupuncture is becoming chiropractic's perfect partner. Acupuncture and chiropractic share many similarities in their principles and in their treatment. Acupuncture works well in combination with chiropractic to treat musculoskeletal injury.

Chiropractic also shares a close bond with applied kinesiology. Kinesiology is the study of muscular movements. Since muscles, bone, and spinal vertebrae are often intertwined and functionally related, so too have become applied kinesiology and chiropractic. Chiropractic also is affiliated with orthopedic medicine and osteopathy. Furthermore, chiropractic medicine has become associated with many addiction centers because of the positive effects it can have on patients suffering from the withdrawal symptoms of addiction.

Modern medicine's perspective:

More than probably any other alternative medicine therapy, chiropractic enjoys wide acceptance by the medical community. There are few towns on both the east and west coasts of America that do not have at least a few chiropractors residing and practicing in them. Many hospitals now have chiropractors on staff regularly, and they are now appointed to the workers' compensation medical examination boards. Chiropractors abound at sporting events because they have becoming a leading influence in sports medicine. Interestingly enough, there is a growing number of chiropractors who are medical doctors as well; this serves to lessen the tension and animosity between western and eastern medicine. Insurance companies and health maintenance organizations are recognizing patients of chiropractic for financial health benefits. Perhaps in the future, chiropractic will build the bridge that unites alternative medicine and conventional medicine to form complementary medicine.

Here is some evidence that corroborates the effectiveness of chiropractic and shows that it is beginning to be accepted by modern medicine:

Nearly 30 percent of the U.S. population, aged 18 and older, have used chiropractic, according to The Gallup Organization. 1991.

Nine of ten chiropractic users felt their treatment was effective, according to The Gallup Organization, 1991.

58 percent of those using chiropractic considered it an essential part of their health insurance package, according to The Gallup Organization, 1991.

In a two-year study completed in 1990 Britain's Medical Research Council, chiropractic treatment was found more effective than hospital outpatient care for low back pain.

According to records from the 1986 Worker's Compensation Fund, the average medical patient was paid ten times more compensation than the average chiropractic patient for the treatment of low back pain.

Studies conducted by the Florida Department of Labor and the Rand Corporation in Los Angeles support the conclusions made by the British Medical Research Council in 1990.

Dr. Davis found that her condition was not related to her heart. He diagnosed her condition as cervical or thoracic angina, a common injury which is caused by trauma to the upper back and neck. Dr. Davis used chiropractic adjustment, muscle stimulation, ultrasound, and hot packs to reverse the woman's symptoms after three visits and eventually completely eliminate her pain after the fourth week.

American Chiropractic Association 1701 Clarendon Boulevard Arlington, Virginia 22209 (703) 276-8800

1. American Chiropractic Association: Synopsis of Chiropractic Care Studies

2. Journal of the American Chiropractic Association; Volume 35, No. 2, February 1998.

3. Journal of the American Chiropractic Association; Volume 35, No. 3, March 1998.

4. American Chiropractic Association: Chiropractic: State of the Art, 1994-1995.

International Chiropractors Association 1110 North Glebe Road Suite 1000 Arlington, Virginia 22201 (703) 528-5000 3. World Chiropractic Alliance 2950 N. Dobson Road, Suite 1 Chandler, Arizona 85224 (800) 347-1011

International College of Applied Kinesology P.O. Box 905 Lawrence, Kansas 66044-0905 (13) 542-1801

The American College of Addictionology and Compulsive Disorders 5990 Bird Road Miami, Florida 33155 (305) 661-3474

Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide; Compiled by the Burton Goldberg Group; Future Medicine Publishing, Inc.; Puyallup, Washington; copyright 1994.

http://pages.prodigy.com:80/CT/doc/doc.html

The Hession Center for Chiropractic Care and Sports Injuries http://www.hessionchiro.com/research.html This site has detailed infomation on the latest research in the field of chiropractic.