Definition of chiropractic

The word "chiropractic" originated in the late 19th century when a Canadian homemaker named Daniel David Palmer discovered a natural healing method for spinal ailments. Palmer's patient, a deaf man named Harvey Lillard, had been suffering from partial deafness for 17 years due to a misaligned spinal vertebra. Palmer, who was already interested in alternative forms of healing, manipulated the vertebra back into place, and Lillard's hearing was restored. Palmer coined the term "chiropractic," which comes from the Greek words "cheir" meaning hand, and "praktikos" meaning done by, to describe the manual technique of using one's hands to adjust the spine and other joints of the body. Palmer recognized that the nervous system controlled all functions of the body, including hearing, and that spinal misalignments known as vertebral subluxations could interfere with the normal function of the nerves. Palmer founded the first chiropractic college in 1897, and the profession grew rapidly over the years. Chiropractic has since been recognized by federal and state health agencies, and research has shown that spinal manipulation can be an effective form of treatment for a variety of conditions, including neck pain, back pain, headaches, and joint pain. Today, chiropractic is a respected healthcare profession, and chiropractors work alongside other healthcare providers, such as medical doctors and physical therapists, to provide comprehensive care for their patients. The use of the hands to adjust the spine and joints remains a fundamental principle of chiropractic, and the profession continues to evolve and grow as new techniques and research are discovered.