10 Interesting Facts About Chiropractic

Spinal manipulation has existed for at least 2500 years and chiropractic care as we know it today began over a hundred years ago in Davenport, Iowa by Daniel David Palmer. D.D. Palmer and his son B.J. Palmer went on to start what is now Palmer College of Chiropractic. Since that time, it has gained recognition worldwide as an effective form of health care. Patient satisfaction is typically very high and studies have shown that, compared to conventional medical care, chiropractic is more safe and financially feasible for many ailments. It’s no surprise that people enjoy chiropractic coverage through their insurance and it’s even offered to men and women serving in the military. Clearly, chiropractic is accepted, widely used, and familiar to most people. It’s also a profession in which a number of interesting footnotes have come to exist. Let’s take a look at a few of the lesser-known facts about chiropractic. 1. May Help Torture And Trauma Survivors - Torture and trauma are real horrors that can cause survivors to experience pain, depression, PTSD, and other horrible long-term problems. Could a wellness approach help to make them well? It seems so. The Boston University School of Public Health reports that some forms of complementary and alternative medicine such as meditation, massage, acupuncture, and chiropractic may be effective as part of a comprehensive approach for treating survivors of torture and trauma. 2. Chiropractic Is Worldwide - Chiropractic is popular all over the world. Although the chiropractic profession was founded in the United States in 1895, spinal manipulation has a long history of use in China. By the 1960′s it spread to Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa. It’s more recently extended across Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Australia. In fact, in Australia, one in four adults have consulted with a chiropractor and nearly 40% of the elderly population rely on complementary and alternative medicine like chiropractic. 3. The Face Paper Sheet Really Works - If you think about it, the average chiropractor’s table probably comes in contact with as many people as the average park bench. As such, hygiene standards are important to make sure the facilities do not become a petri dish of disgusting pathogens. In 2011, the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College evaluated the cleanliness of area chiropractic clinics and found that, while bacteria was a valid concern, most chiropractors were proactive with disinfection and the face paper sheet used to cover the table headpieces was an effective barrier to germs. 4. The Amish Like Chiropractic Too - The Amish may reject many of the modern “conveniences” many of us enjoy, but there is no denying that they have somewhat of a reputation for embracing a robust, natural approach to maintaining good health — an approach that is quite similar to wellness. It’s no surprise that this has lead to an acceptance of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the Amish community. A few years ago, the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine conducted a survey of Amish women concerning their use of CAM and reported that thirty-six percent used nutritional supplements, herbal therapies, and chiropractic medicine. 5. Chiropractors Do It Better - It’s not uncommon for an adjustment to produce an almost orgasmic moan of relief. If you’ve ever had a kink in your neck that a chiropractor was able to remedy, you know what I’m talking about. It begs the question, why does it feel so good? Well, in addition to unpinching pinched nerves, realigning the misaligned, and generally guiding things back where they need to be, manipulation stimulates muscular and tendon sensory receptors to produce an excitatory effect on the central nervous system and often times a release of endorphins. 6. Sometimes The Healers Need Healing - Being a chiropractor can be physically demanding and there are times when performing an adjustment requires you to throw your back into it. Unfortunately, chiropractors aren’t immune to throwing their back out. In 2006, the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic surveyed 1000 United States chiropractors to determine what work-related injuries they’ve experienced. Respondents said that the most common affected their hand, shoulder, and lower back and occurred while performing an adjustment or positioning a patient. Giving credence to experience, it was also found that most injuries occurred in the first five years of practice. 7. Female Chiropractors Can Hold Their Own - As said, being a chiropractor can present physical demands and performing an adjustment can require a lot of thrust. This has led some to squint their eyes and wonder if smaller-framed male and female chiropractors can cut the mustard. Well, fear not. When researchers at the University of Victoria pitted the abilities of 14 male chiropractors against 14 female chiropractors, they found that female chiropractors are just as able as their male colleagues. 8. A Little More Diversity Would Be Nice - The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reported that the average chiropractic patient in 2008 was white, female, of higher income, and residing in a small metro area. And, although Medicare covers chiropractic care, the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice found that from 2002-2008, 97% of Medicare-covered recipients of chiropractic care were white. Why is this? Everyone can benefit from chiropractic. I would really love to hear some feedback — what can the chiropractic industry do to attract a more accurate sampling of our diverse American population? 9. Don’t Let Your Untrained Friend Adjust You - “Hey dude! Will you pop my back?” Have you ever heard someone say that? Worse, have you ever said it? Worse yet, have you been the one to do the popping? Stop it! Proper chiropractic care involves more than a few simple motions and manipulation is only safe when performed by someone who has received the necessary training. Chiropractic is not monkey-see, monkey-do! Do you need proof? In 2001, a man in India developed severe spinal cord and brainstem problems after receiving an adjustment from his barber. That’s just one example. Bad idea. 10. One Of The Most Successful Chiropractors Ever Was Blind - Vision impairment does not make a person incapable, and a fantastic example of that was Dr. Charles Robinson Johnson. In 1918, when he was 39, Dr. Johnson graduated from the Palmer School of Chiropractic and became the first blind chiropractor, and one of the most successful. For over 25 years he practiced in Peekskill, New York and had a well traveled reputation as a miracle healer, seeing hundreds of patients each week. The newspapers even called him, “The Man Who Made Peekskill Famous.” Quite an achievement for someone blind and born in a mining camp! Source: Dr. Edward F. Group III, www.globalhealingcenter.com, 3/5/14.