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About Chiropractic
Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders
of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the
effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic
care is used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints,
including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the
joints of the arms or legs, and headaches.
Doctors of Chiropractic – often referred to as chiropractors or
chiropractic physicians – practice a drug-free, hands-on approach to
health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis and
treatment. Chiropractors have broad diagnostic skills and are also
trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as
well as to provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling.
The most common therapeutic procedure performed by doctors of
chiropractic is known as “spinal manipulation,” also called
“chiropractic adjustment.” The purpose of manipulation
is to restore joint mobility by manually applying a controlled force
into joints that have become hypomobile – or restricted in their
movement – as a result of a tissue injury. Tissue injury can be
caused by a single traumatic event, such as improper lifting of a
heavy object, or through repetitive stresses, such as sitting in an
awkward position with poor spinal posture for an extended period of
time. In either case, injured tissues undergo physical and chemical
changes that can cause inflammation, pain, and diminished function
for the sufferer. Manipulation, or adjustment of the affected joint
and tissues, restores mobility, thereby alleviating pain and muscle
tightness, and allowing tissues to heal.
-Taken from the ACA
History of Chiropractic
Chiropractic got started in Davenport Iowa a little over 100 years
ago. In 1895 a “magnetic healer” as he was called, by the name
of DD Palmer operated an office on the corner of Second and Brady
street in downtown Davenport. Dr. Palmer, as he was known,
noticed on that day the janitor who worked in his building was
nearly totally deaf.
This janitor was a black gentleman by
the name of Harvey Lillard. Upon questioning, (probably very
loud questioning) Harvey explained to Dr. Palmer that he had lost
most of his hearing 17 years earlier when he was bending over and
felt a “pop” in his upper back or neck. Dr. Palmer examined
the area and noticed a bump which he determined to be a spinal
vertebrae out of position. It seemed that Harvey noticed this
bump right after he lost his hearing. Having a knowledge of
anatomy, Dr. Palmer convinced Harvey to allow him to try to fix it
by pushing the bone back into place.
History is uncertain as to whether it
was one visit or several, but the result was Harvey got his hearing
back! From that point DD Palmer changed his practice over to
this new method of replacing bones that were out of position and
allowing people to heal. His practice grew and the profession
of chiropractic was born.
Within two years Dr. Palmer opened
the first school of Chiropractic on Brady Street in Davenport.
It was his son Dr. BJ Palmer, who continued the school after the
death of DD. It is the son BJ, who is given credit today for
growing and developing the profession into what it has become today.
(info taken from:
http://www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/consumer/children.htm)
Parents will do just about anything to protect their child's health.
They serve nutritionally balanced meals, encourage daily exercise,
and insist on regular dental and eye examinations. Yet many neglect
the most important part of the child's health care program: regular
spinal checkups.
Subluxation on Delivery
Misalignments in spinal bones which interfere with the normal flow
of nerve energy are known as subluxations. Many people still
associate them with major trauma. They think the spine can be
affected only after lifting heavy objects or being in an automobile
accident. They don't realize that the daily activities of young
children can easily result in subluxations.
In fact, many babies receive their first subluxations during
pregnancy and the birthing process. Modern medical procedures such
as the Cesarean section, the use of forceps, and induced deliveries
put unnatural strains on the infant's delicate body. Frequently,
doctors still hold the baby upside down from the feet. Throughout
the ordeal, the tiny spine is twisted, tugged and stretched. The
frequent result: subluxations.
People who understand the importance of spinal checkups and care
bring their children into the chiropractor's office when they are
tiny infants.