What Are the Basics of Chiropractic Care?
By Dr. Molly Casey
There’s an adage that goes like this: “You don’t know what you don’t know.” And for many people, that’s really true when it comes to the science of chiropractic. They often think they know -- a chiropractor adjusts your back -- but they aren’t familiar with why the chiropractor adjusts the back, who discovered the concept of helping the body heal itself by adjusting the spine here or there, and why it’s become a trusted part of personal healthcare.
Let’s discover the origins of the profession, what and who chiropractic may help, and whether or not it’s safe (spoiler alert: It is!).
What Is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic care is a profession based on science, art and philosophy. It was founded in 1895 by a man named DD Palmer -- Daniel David Palmer (1845-1913). Palmer performed the first chiropractic adjustment on the janitor in his building, Harvey Lillard, who had been hearing impaired for 17 years. After receiving the first adjustment on Sept. 18, 1895, Lillard noticed that his hearing had improved.
Palmer’s approach became the foundational paradigm of chiropractic, that the organism/host (the body) is innately intelligent on a cellular level and responds to stressors of the environment through self-organization, self-healing, and optimal function. In layman’s terms, the body will heal itself if given the opportunity. The body wants to heal and function at its best. When there is interference with the brain-body communication system, there will be some level of dis-ease (not to be confused with disease) and symptoms. When the interference is removed, the body attempts to intelligently organize and self heal.
In the case of Harvey Lillard the interference was in the cervical spine. Upon the delivery of the chiropractic adjustment, the interference was removed and the dis-ease was relieved, and the symptom resolved in the form of his hearing being restored. This first adjustment is a phenomenal illustration of the power of chiropractic. It is also important to note that because most of the processes of the body are automatic and unseen/unknown by the individual (heart beating, digesting food), the power is likely far more profound than we realize.
Chiropractic care is focused on the optimal health and function of the spine. The science of spinal manipulation is based on the anatomy and physiology of the body. The art includes the techniques that the doctor of chiropractic uses. The philosophy is born out of the concept that the body is a self-healing mechanism.
How Does the Spine Work?
The spinal column houses and protects the nervous system. The central nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord and nerve roots that lead to the peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system -- a term that many people are unfamiliar with -- includes the nerves that run throughout the body, such as to your fingertips or your toes. The brain communicates with the body and the body with the brain through the nervous system with both electrical and chemical impulses or messages. A prick from a needle sends information from the cells of the finger through the nerves into the spinal cord and to the brain, which sends information back to the finger causing you to pull it away from the needle.
As the spine protects the nervous system, the health of the spine or its dysfunction can positively or negatively affect the functioning of that nervous system. If there is degradation of the spine and dysfunction occurs, it is likely that the nervous system will not be able to function to the highest degree possible. If one has a mobile, flexible, and strong spine that has retained proper curvatures and joint motion, then the nervous system has a more clear opportunity to function at its highest level; an analogy might be that the communication lines inside the spine allow information to flow unimpeded, but when they’re kinked, that information is slowed -- kind of like buffering when you’re trying to watch a video over the internet.
Chiropractors promote optimal nervous system functioning by evaluating spinal structures and health. Often because of traumas, toxins, and stress in life, the spinal joints lose their full range of motion and, as a result, can cause dysfunction and degradation of proper spinal curvatures and overall spine health. When spinal joints lose their full range of motion, this is referred to as subluxation. Chiropractors primarily use their hands -- and certainly that was the case when Palmer discovered the science -- to perform chiropractic adjustments to correct subluxation, restore joint range of motion, and promote overall health and well-being.
Although side effects are typically thought of as a negative, a very common side effect of chiropractic care is pain relief.
Who Can Chiropractic Help?
People of all ages and with all conditions can see chiropractors. Chiropractors hold a doctorate degree. When seeing a chiropractor for the first time, one will have an initial evaluation and exam that takes into account the medical history of the patient. This may include, but is not limited to, surgeries, illnesses, conditions, and social, nutritional and exercise habits of the patient. The medical history, exam, possible diagnostic testing, and current condition of the patient will provide the doctor with the information needed to explain the advantages chiropractic care may offer.
It is quite common that initial visits to chiropractors occur because of headaches, neck pain, and mid back or low back aches.
Newborns and elderly alike can see chiropractors as well. Newborns suffer a traumatic trip through the birth canal and may benefit from having their spine checked for optimal mobility and alignment as they begin life. The elderly may have years of wear-and-tear that has taken its toll on the function of the spine and ultimately disrupted those “communication lines” between their brain and body.
Is Chiropractic Safe?
Chiropractic adjustments are generally safe. It is a profession that uses manual therapies, and literally means done by hand. The art of chiropractic is that there are many different techniques and tools to use when the doctor restores joint range of motion with the chiropractic adjustment.
There are specific techniques that can be used when people prefer a very gentle approach. One option is the Activator method, which uses a small handheld tool that makes a clicking noise; it provides a gentle force to the joint, restoring motion. Another very gentle technique is SOT, which involves using wedges that move and hold joints in specific positions in order to align the joint and ultimately restore range of motion. When patients prefer a more hands on approach, there are techniques such as the Diversified and Gonstead adjustments, plus a multitude of others.
The variety of techniques that can be used, the background of the doctor, as well as the extensive schooling and clinical experience, provide a strong cache of tools and expertise from which to pull and help a variety of patients.
Part of the beauty in chiropractic is that patients are treated as a whole being, and their uniqueness in life and body will determine what is the best path for healing. It is common for chiropractors (who are trained and licensed doctors) to add other non-invasive modalities into patients’ health care plans. Some common interventions may be soft tissue modalities, stretching exercises, nutritional supplements, and heat/ cold therapies or massages.
Some chiropractors will offer educational pieces (house workshops, outside talks and events, or written materials for patients) on various aspects of nutrition and exercise because these are strongly linked to one’s overall health, wellness, and overall quality of life.
Why Is Chiropractic Important?
Chiropractic care is a phenomenal addition to one’s overall health and wellness routine. Chiropractic care is also a phenomenal conservative care option for those struggling with joint issues, neck, mid or low back pain, and headaches.
After providing an evaluation and exam, doctors of chiropractic can give you an assessment on whether chiropractic care is a good fit for you and your health goals. Because there are various techniques, gentler approaches can be used if conditions are more severe while more aggressive techniques can be used if one is healthier.
Chiropractic care can be tailored to the patient specifically, and all of this is done naturally -- without medication or surgery, meaning there’s no risk from addiction that might exist while seeing an MD who prescribes medicine that may only be masking the pain.
Chiropractic is an effective way to improve your overall level of health and quality of life. It can play an important role in optimal nervous system communication, proper joint motion, and overall spinal health. Chiropractic care offers many health benefits: it is excellent for pain reduction, can help with injury prevention, and has helped many avoid surgeries. Adding all of these components together along with the wellness educational pieces chiropractors can provide you, prove there is a strong case for a better and healthier you when adding regular chiropractic care into your health routine.
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this page are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this post is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics, including but not limited to the benefits of chiropractic care, exercise and nutrition. It is not intended to provide or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your chiropractor, physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this page.