Chiropractic Health Channel

	Feature Article Chiropractor profession Alternative Names Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) Information Chiropractic care (which comes from the Greek word meaning "done by hand") dates back to 1895. It was developed by Daniel David Palmer, a self-taught healer in Davenport, Iowa. Palmer wanted to find a cure for disease and illness that did not use drugs. He studied the structure of the spine and the ancient art of moving the body with the hands (manipulation). Palmer first treated a local janitor who complained of deafness after performing heavy labor in a stooped position. When he examined the man, Palmer noted a lump on the janitor's back that he believed was caused by a displaced bone of the spinal column (vertebra). Shortly after Palmer manipulated the janitor's back, his hearing was restored. Later Palmer claimed to successfully treat a man's heart condition using spinal manipulation. Based upon his success with these two cases, Palmer concluded that disease can be the result of a poorly aligned spine. As more people began to seek Palmer's care, he refined his theory to state that many ailments were caused by the vertebrae pressing on the nerves of the spine. Palmer called such interference with normal nerve signals "subluxations." He believed that manipulating or adjusting to correct the alignment of the vertebrae would restore normal brain and nerve transmission and help the body's natural ability to recover from illness. Today, most practicing chiropractors mix spinal adjustments with other therapies, such as hot or cold treatments, nutritional counseling, and exercise recommendations. They also often use new technologies to find and treat subluxations. Chiropractors take a medical history in the same way as other health care providers. Continue reading this article

More Articles

Aging changes in the bones - muscles - joints (11 Videos, 5 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Changes in posture and gait (walking pattern) are as universally associated with aging as changes in the skin and hair. The skeleton provides support and structure to the body. Joints are the areas where bones come together. They allow the skeleto...Reviewer: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 08/10/2008
Email

Muscle strain treatment (11 Videos, 2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Question: How do you treat a muscle strain? Answer: Rest and ice for the first few days after the injury. Anti-inflammatory medications or acetaminophen (Tylenol) also can be helpful to reduce pain and swelling in the first few days after the inju...Reviewer: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; and C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Dept of Orthopaedic Surgery. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 07/10/2009
Email

Muscle aches (11 Videos, 2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Muscle aches and pains are common and can involve more than one muscle. Muscle pain also can involve ligaments, tendons, and fascia, the soft tissues that connect muscles, bones, and organs. See also: Muscle cramps; Joint pain.Reviewer: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, Uinversity of Washington, School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/02/2009
Email

Use Healthline to search the web for more Chiropractic information.