Spinal manipulation is referred to in ancient Chinese and Greek records dating back several thousand years. Records show that is was Daniel David Palmer who is the founder of Chiropractic was born in Port Perry, near Toronto, Canada. At the age of twenty DD Palmer (as he was also known) moved to the United States with his family. DD Palmer held various jobs as a beekeeper, school teacher, and grocery store owner, and had an interest in the various health philosophies of his day, such as magnetic healing, osteopathy, and spiritualism. Daniel Palmer had a keen interest in Anatomy and Physiology and practiced magnetic healing beginning in the mid-1880s in Burlington and Davenport, Iowa this lead him in his search to find the cause of all disease.
Harvey Lillard janitor of the Ryan Building in Brady Street, Davenport who works in a cramped, stooping position, said he had felt something give way in his spine, the immediate result was not only pain...he found he had lost his hearing. At the time Daniel David Palmer, had an office in the Ryan Building and was a keen student of anatomy and physiology. Daniel Palmer had a theory. He surmised that the spine was the highway along which ran the central nervous system. If that highway should become in need of repair and in any way restrict the constant traffic of brain impulses and orders carried by the central nervous system, other symptoms seemingly unconnected to the spinal column could result.
He examined Harvey Lillard and found that one of his vertebrae was misaligned. On September 18th 1895, he gave Harvey Lillard the first ever Chiropractic adjustment. Harvey's hearing returned...and Chiropractic was born.
DD Palmer founded a school based on his work that is now known as Palmer College of Chiropractic (PCC). The school had graduated fifteen chiropractors by 1902 and Palmer was prosecuted under the new medical arts law in Iowa for practicing medicine without a license. Shortly after Palmer returned home he sold his school to his son BJ Palmer. He then moved to the west coast and help found more chiropractic schools in Oklahoma, California and Oregon.
The 20th century saw the growth and development of the profession worldwide, gaining recognition and respect for the place it has taken in the primary care environment. Influential research has underpinned the development of the profession and has come both from both within and outside of the chiropractic research communities.
Chiropractic is unique in that the profession is organised internationally and there are international standards for education. The British Chiropractic Association (BCA) only accepts members who have graduated from a nationally or internationally-recognised college of chiropractic education, after a minimum of four years full-time training and ensures its chiropractors maintain high standards of conduct, practice, education and training.
Description and benefits of Chiropractic
Chiropractic is a primary health-care profession that specialises in the diagnosis, treatment and overall management of conditions that are due to problems with the joints, ligaments, tendons and nerves of the body, particularly those of the spine.
A chiropractor will carry out a full examination (which may include an X-ray) and take a thorough history before advising an appropriate treatment programme for you. They concentrate on ensuring joints are aligned and working correctly also that still existing nerves are protected enabling them to recover.
Depending on the problem, the treatment consists of specific adjustments done by hand. The Chiropractic technique can treat problems with bones, muscles and joints as they focus on the links between the spine and nervous system. The benefits depending on the health condition and ailment include pain relief, ease of muscle and joint tension and an improvement to the circulation system.
For example back pain will be treated by using their techniques to manipulate stiff joints and reduce spinal nerve irritation and whiplash will be treated by using gentle, specific adjustments to your neck, enabling the pain to decrease and restore normal movement to the effected area and to ensure that all related joints are working correctly.
Your chiropractor may also recommend ice, heat or massage treatment amongst other things. They also support the treatment they offer with individual advice about the patient's lifestyle, work and exercise, in order to help in managing the condition and preventing a recurrence of the problem.
People of all ages and from all walks of life can benefit from chiropractic treatment, from babies to the elderly, children through to adulthood including pregnant women can benefit from a treatment.
Governing bodies of Chiropractic
The British Chiropractic Association (BCA) - Founded over 80 years ago, are the largest and longest established association for chiropractors in the UK.
The Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA) - is the UK umbrella association bringing together support groups, professional bodies and research organisations in the field of arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions.
The General Chiropractic Council (GCC) – isthe body established by parliament to regulate, develop and promote the chiropractic profession.
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