Chiropractic

Origins and historical development :

Canadian Daniel David Palmer was a student of anatomy and physiology; and a pupil of Dr Still, the founder of osteopathy. Believing the spine to be the information pathway that the central nervous system uses to communicate with the brain, Palmer concluded that any misalignment or restriction in the spine (from injury or poor posture) can interfere with the messages being sent to the brain, resulting in pain and disease. Importantly, however, such disruption of the nervous system may affect the functionality of any part of the body; with certain vertebra relating to a particular point in the nervous system, which in turn represents specific organs, glands and muscles. Concentrating on manipulation of the spine for his own technique, Palmer developed chiropractic, interpreted as ‘done by hand’ from the Greek kheir, meaning hand; and praktikos, meaning practical. The first true test of his principles came when Palmer treated a janitor by the name of Harvey Lillard. Working in cramped conditions some 17 years earlier, Lillard had heard his back click and had subsequently gone deaf. Palmer found a misaligned vertebra which he adjusted and Lillard’s hearing returned.

Spinal misalignments create pressure on the nerves in the spine and can be caused either by ‘subluxation’ (sprain / partial dislocation) or ‘fixation’ (attachment) of the vertebrae. Correct mobility of the spine is restored with a sudden thrust on the affected vertebra to extend it further than normal. The muscles that surround the particular area are suddenly stretched and forced to relax and the elasticity of the tendons and ligaments allow the vertebra to oscillate back to its natural position. The thrusting action causes a change of pressure within the joint space resulting in a painless ‘click’ as gas dissipates, often heard during manipulation therapy treatments. With the skeletal structure properly in place, the central nervous system can communicate unimpeded with the brain allowing the natural healing functions of the body to perform effectively, fighting disease and maintaining good health.

The British chiropractor John McTimoney from the 1950’s was the first practitioner to claim to have successfully treated animals. In practice he would often use gentle manipulation with just his fingertips; but the main difference in his approach to the traditional chiropractic therapy, was the belief that each treatment should focus on the whole body. Subtle adjustments should be made of the skull, chest, pelvis and limbs to ensure the body is in complete harmony after a vertebrae manipulation; an approach furthered by Hugh Corley, who had trained under McTimoney.

What to expect during a treatment :

The first session will last up to an hour with the practitioner taking a detailed case history and observe the patient’s posture while in various positions to asses the functionality of the spine, muscles and joints. The patient will often be asked to take outer clothing off to allow easier visibility of the moving body parts. The practitioner will then look for misalignment on the spine and carry out necessary manipulation to restore correct mobility. Pain relief and flexibility may improve immediately, although a couple of treatments may be advisable at first to monitor how the body is adjusting. Subsequent sessions will likely last between 20 and 30 minutes, with the number of treatments depending on the condition. Many people use a chiropractor for on going treatment to maintain good health and keep problems from arising.

Conditions suitable for treatment :

Chiropractic therapy has been effective for the treatment of back and neck pain, joint complaints, digestive problems, RSI, headaches, tinnitus, vertigo, whiplash and sports injuries. It can also be tailored to treat pregnant women, babies, children and the elderly.