What is Chiropractic?

    Chiropractic is a Latin word that literally means "to work with hands." Chiropractic first began in this country in Davenport, Iowa. Dr. D.D. Palmer was the first chiropractor in the United States. Dr. Palmer studied many different forms of health prior to discovering the unique ability to help patients by adjusting or manipulating their spine. History reveals that Dr. Palmer was fascinated with the study of structure and function in the human body. His particular field of study was the nervous system and the bony articulations called the vertebral column. Dr. Palmer studied the ancient arts of joint manipulation and spinal adjusting performed thousands of years ago among the Asian and Greek cultures.

    The father of medicine, Hippocrates, wrote that one should, "look well the spine for the cause of disease." D.D. Palmer realized that the nervous system was responsible for the body's function. The brain and spinal cord were directly connected through a network of nerves called the peripheral nervous system, to every functioning blood vessel, organ, and tissue in the human body. Like an electrical network of circuitry, the nervous system is the driving force in controlling the body's functions. Dr. Palmer surmised that any interference with this system could cause problems.

    For example, many people suffering from headaches complain of chronic neck pain. Examination of the neck, or cervical spine, may reveal tight muscles, restricted joint motion, pain and tenderness upon touch, etc. In fact, today medical research is finding out that most headaches begin in the neck. Dr. Palmer and his research of the spine, 100 years ago, knew that there has always been a link between vertebral alignment or structure and the function of the surrounding tissues, blood vessels, and organs. How could a headache respond to chiropractic?

    Adjusting or manipulation the vertebral structures, can reduce the amount of stress and structural pain associated with misaligned vertebrae or "subluxated" vertebrae. This is how chiropractic is effective. The chiropractic profession has become more and more accepted and respected as a form of treating the human body.