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Chiropractic theory says shifting vertebrae that press on spinal nerves cause disease. Adjusting the vertebrae with quick thrusts and manipulations restores normal function to muscles, organs, joints and other tissues. The theory was developed by a self-taught healer named Daniel David Palmer in the 1890s and later refined by his son.
Today most chiropractors fall into two groups: those who strictly follow Palmer's philosophy of only using adjustments to fix the spine and those who combine adjustments with exercise, heat treatment and nutrition counseling. Many chiropractors specialize in treating back pain, sciatica or disorders related to the neck region such as headaches, shoulder pain and tennis elbow. Some will treat other illnesses from arthritis to bladder infections. Nearly all promote disease prevention through proper diet, exercise and lifestyle.
At the chiropractor's office
Chiropractors start by taking a medical history and performing a physical examination. They'll use X-rays to find problems related to the spine. They also may conduct tests to determine muscle strengths or weaknesses, measure spinal flexibility, find skeletal abnormalities and detect bad posture. If problems such as a tumor or bone fracture are found, the patient is referred to a medical doctor. Otherwise, the chiropractor plans a course of treatment and begins adjustment procedures.
One common procedure is the quick, but not forceful, recoil thrust while the patient is positioned belly down on the special chiropractic table. In another common procedure called the rotational thrust, the patient is placed so the upper body is twisted counter to the pelvis. With the spine rotated to its normal limit, the chiropractor uses a short, fast thrust to realign the spine.
Acceptance of chiropractic medicine
At one time the American Medical Association labeled chiropractic medicine as an unscientific cult. Since the 1970s, however, chiropractic therapy has grown in popularity and acceptance. Today chiropractors are licensed in all 50 states. Many health insurance plans and all government medical plans cover some treatment. It is the third largest primary care profession in the world, behind only medicine and dentistry.
In the United States alone, there are some 52,000 licensed chiropractors serving at least 20 million patients a year. Accredited schools offer four- to five-year programs. Still, chiropractors are not physicians, and they are not permitted to prescribe drugs or perform surgery.
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This article was reviewed and updated
08-01-2009.
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