What is Chiropractic Medicine?
Manual manipulation of the spine and other joints in the
body has been around for a long time. Ancient writings from China and
Greece dating between 2700 B.C. and 1500 B.C. mention spinal manipulation
and the maneuvering of the lower extremities to ease low back pain.
In fact, Hippocrates, the famous Greek physician who lived from 460
to 357 B.C., published a text detailing the importance of manual manipulation.
In one of his writings he declares, "Get knowledge of the spine,
for this is the requisite for many diseases". Evidence of manual
manipulation of the body has been found among the ancient civilizations
of Egypt, Babylon, Syria, Japan, the Incas, Mayans and Native Americans.
Current Chiropractic Medicine is based on the scientific
fact that your body is a self-changing, self-healing organism, controlled
by the nervous system - the brain, the spinal cord and nerves of the
body. Many cases resolve within one to two months of care, while others
may require more extensive treatment and co-management. Chiropractic
Medicine is a professional health care discipline that emphasizes
diagnosis, treatment and prevention of these disorders by gentle manipulation
of the musculoskeletal system, especially the spine without the use
of drugs or medicines. Chiropractors are primary care
physicians of the spine.
The main causes of joint dysfunction are mechanical,
chemical, and psychosocial. Mechanical causes are referred to as
micro or macro trauma. Micro trauma can also be called repetitive stress
injury. Sitting and driving a truck or bus for hours with poor posture,
or at a desk and typing all day can cause problems such as carpal tunnel
or neck, upper back, or low back pain. Macro trauma refers to pain due
to trauma to the body, such as a fall, a break, or a car accident. Both
forms of mechanical causes of joint dysfunction can benefit immensely
from chiropractic care. Another cause of joint dysfunction
is due to the chemical effects on the joint function and the body as
a whole. Smoking, heavy drinking, and poor diet can create inflammatory
chemicals in the body. Psychosocial behaviors can affect the patients’
perception of their pain, change the coping strategies for dealing with
pain, or can possibly lengthen time off work.
Doctors of Chiropractic
Medicine , more commonly known as chiropractors,
are primary health care providers licensed in all 50 states, and
are recognized by governmental health care programs such as Medicare,
Workers' Compensation programs and more. Every year, more than
30 million Americans see chiropractors as part of the
regular health care programs and with over 84,000 licensed chiropractors
nationwide and more than 10,000 students currently enrolled
in chiropractic school, it is the fastest growing health
care profession.
Chiropractors frequently treat individuals
with problems, such as headaches, joint pain, neck pain, low back pain
and sciatica. Chiropractors also treat patients
with osteoarthritis, spinal disc conditions, carpal tunnel syndrome,
tendonitis, sprains, and strains. However, the scope of conditions
that chiropractors manage or provide care for is not
limited to the common pains and problems listed above. Chiropractors
have had success treating certain types of organic dysfunction like
asthma, high blood pressure, allergies, women’s issues and some
gastrointestinal issues. Some of these are treatments are unproven
in the scientific literature; but, patients of chiropractic
medicine have been benefiting from care for decades.
