Chiropractic practice was developed in the late 19th century by Daniel D. Palmer. The therapy seeks to diagnose and treat health conditions and disorders affecting the spine, joints and central nervous system.
Practitioners of chiropractic medicine believe that when the body’s system is in harmony, the body has the ability to heal itself. It is one of the most successful and easy-to-access complementary remedies with an excellent track record.
History of Chiropractic Medicine
The term chiropractic is derived from the ancient Greek cheiro which means hand and praktikos meaning manipulation or done by hand. We know that spinal manipulation has been practised for thousands of years probably originating in Ancient Egypt.
Hippocrates back in the 5th century BC was an advocate of the practice. Back walking has also been practiced by ancient cultures.
However, it was not until 1895 Canadian-born Daniel D. Palmer tested the technique and apparently heard the first click. Unfortunately, Mr. Palmer was jailed for practising the technique without a license. His son took up the practice and continued his father’s methods.
The therapy quickly became popular first spreading to Australia and then to many parts of the rest of the world. Doctors remained skeptical but is now widely accepted and considered a valuable complementary therapy. Australia was one of the first countries to officially recognise chiropractic medicine.
Key Principles of Chiropractic Medicine
A chiropractor sees the body as a machine. If we stop and think about our bodies, we will realise this is true, Our bodies have power sources, lubrication and even wiring.
In the eyes of chiropractic practice, the spine is the key. Any problems associated with the spine affect the way parts of the body function.
But there is more to the practice than mechanical. Chiropractors believe treatment can ease tension and reduce stress which can manifest itself in the organs.
According to chiropractic principles, when the skeleton works smoothly, the natural healing process can heal the body.
Evidence and Research
To date, a large body of evidence has been uncovered supporting the efficacy of chiropractic medicine for a rather long list of conditions including back pain.
Compared to many other treatments, it is also cost-effective with no harmful side effects.
In 1990, the British Medical Journal published results clearly indicating that patients experiencing back pain recovered faster when they visited a chiropractor than regular doctor-hospital care.
Promising research has also been done in Australia. The results indicate the same as the British study and back it up by adding that chiropractic treatment may be twice as effective. Today, chiropractic treatment is recommended for sports injuries as well as more serious injuries. It also has a valuable place when it comes to treating and curing work-related health conditions such as injuries from lifting.
The Theory of Chiropractic Medicine
As we all know, the spine is the most important support in our body’s structure. It forms the communication system between the brain and the body.
Any misalignments can cause pain and affect the functioning of the body. In chiropractic medicine, treatments focus on manipulation and techniques that may seem similar to osteopathy.
It is worth mentioning that Mctimoney and McTimoney-Corley chiropractic are offshoots of the standard form of the practice. They are both well-recognised and clinically effective.
What Are The Mian uses of Chiropractic?
As you have probably realised, skeletal and spinal conditions are the main options for treatments. However, there are other conditions that can also be treated.
Main uses of Chiropractic include:
● Spinal disorders
● Neck conditions
● Muscle problems
● Joint conditions
● Postural conditions
● Sciatica
● Migraines
● Headaches
● Vertigo
● Tinnitus
● Asthma
● PMS
The more we find out about chiropractic medicine, the more interesting it becomes.
Final Thoughts and Medical Opinion
Is chiropractic medicine safe? Compared to treatment with opioids and other drugs, chiropractic treatments are very safe. When compared to surgery, it is many times safer.
It can be used as a therapy and maintenance treatment to maintain good health. It is suitable for many age groups and can even be practiced on animals.
In Australia, chiropractic medicine is regulated by the Board of Chiropractic. It is one of the best and longest-established regulating bodies of chiropractic in the world and is very well respected.
