What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic, was founded over 100 years ago by Daniel David Palmer. The word chiropractic comes from the Greek translation “to treat with the hands”.

Thus, all chiropractors are taught a “hands on approach” to evaluating and treating patients.

Because our brain and spinal cord are housed and protected by bones, bones that move, chiropractic’s main focus is in ensuring those regions are not interfered by an abnormally functioning of the approximating bones and their supportive soft tissues.

Chiropractic manipulative therapy, the major treatment used by chiropractors, is often referred to as an “adjustment”. Adjustments are forces applied to any joint to change its functional alignment. All joint regions have nerves which convey information to the brain and their normal function can be disrupted.

This abnormal functioning joint or “dysfunctional segment” can produce stiffness, pain, numbness or even a decreased function of an organ or an area which relies on nerves to help it work properly.

Chiropractic’s originator first determined this importance after he thought a blow to the head of a deaf janitor had misplaced a bone in his upper back. Dr. Palmer adjusted it and found that his hearing improved.

What is a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC)?

Chiropractors are first-contact physicians who possess the diagnostic skills to differentiate health conditions that are amenable to their management from those conditions that require referral or co-management.

Chiropractors provide conservative management of nerve, muscle and joint (neuromusculoskeletal) disorders and related functional clinical conditions including, but not limited to, back, neck and upper and lower extremity pain and headaches.

The practice and procedures which may be employed by Doctors of Chiropractic are based on the academic and clinical training received in and through accredited chiropractic colleges and include, but are not limited to, the use of current diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

Chiropractors are expert providers of manipulation/adjustments. They also utilize a variety of manual, mechanical and electrical therapeutic modalities.

Chiropractors also provide patient evaluation and instructions regarding disease prevention and health promotion through proper nutrition, exercise and lifestyle modification among others.