Chiropractic History
From Hippocrates to medieval and renaissance physicians, procedures did not change. The first manipulations ever were based on the similarity between human and animal bone structures.
Chiropractic started as a medical practice back in 1895. in America, in Davenport, when Mr. Daniel Palmer noticed a correlation between the dislocated vertebrae and hearing problems of his janitor. After manually adjusting the dislocated vertebrae, the janitor's hearing improved significantly. Soon after, in 1897. the first school of chiropractic, named after Palmer, is established. The actual name "chiropractic" is derived from the Greek word chiros- which stands for hand and praxis- which stands for work. The best and highest quality chiropractic colleges are in North America, where most quality chiropractors have graduated.
The origin of modern chiropractic is found in traditional Chinese medicine. Ancient learning says that the structure of the body determines general function. Change in the structure will cause a disruption of the energy flow which will reflect on the general state of wellbeing.
Eighty years ago, chiropractic was considered a non-scientific method of treatment since it was practiced by untrained people. When medically educated people took place in chiropractic, the attitude of the health care system changed. The benefits of chiropractic in neck pain treatment, lower back, and musculoskeletal disorders are undeniable. Particular attention is paid to the treatment of the lumbar syndrome. Chiropractic became so popular that on the mere mention of back pain, people usually think of it.
The chiropractor's task is to locate the disability and treat it with a manipulative technique. After removal of the neuro-physiological blockade, the body is allowed to begin the natural healing process. As a result, the pain disappears or decreases. In the case of spine disorders - much greater mobility is noticed.
Please note that the work of a chiropractor is only an initial impulse on the path to healing. Before each treatment, there is a need for a proper diagnostic examination by a specialist physiatrist, X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging, the necessary laboratory findings, and possibly other specialist examinations. Contraindications for chiropractic treatment are bone fractures, some systemic diseases, cardiovascular problems, and some tumors. A good chiropractor must follow the principle rule of chiropractic - "do not harm" - in Latin, "Primum non-nocere."
Chiropractic Benefits
Compared to other methods, chiropractic has proven to be the most effective therapy in treating disc herniation of the lumbar and cervical spine.
Disc herniation can put pressure on the spinal cord or spinal nerves. It can cause neuroendocrine pathophysiological response, followed by severe pain. Pressure against the nerve root from a herniated disc can cause numbness and weakness along the nerve.
Each herniation leads to displacement of the apophyseal joints of the corresponding segment. The close contact of the apophyseal joints in the area of the intervertebral opening explains the occurrence of pressure on the root.
Manual spinal mobilization is the primary method for the acute stage of the disease. In addition to manual mobilization, anti-inflammatory therapy is also necessary.
Apart from disc herniation, for displacements of the intervertebral joints, chiropractic is the therapy of choice. In this case, the knowledge and expertise of the chiropractor are even more effective than the use of drugs. Chiropractic is also the therapy of choice for the tiny displacement of the first cervical vertebra.
Chiropractic is also beneficial in the adjustment of the first vertebra - ATLAS. A misalignment in the atlas vertebra can lead to a host of health problems.
