You've been to the Doctor...

Chiropractic philosophy was founded in 1895 by a former beekeeper, school teacher, grocer and self-professed spiritual healer named Daniel David Palmer, a native of Canada who lived in Davenport, Iowa. Palmer’s premise was based on his fundamental belief that 95 percent of all diseases are caused by disorders of the spine, which he termed vertebral subluxation. In his posthumously published book, The Chiropractor, Palmer further outlined his inspirations for the founding of chiropractics.

The Evolution of Chiropractic Therapy

More than a century after Palmer’s original inspiration, chiropractic medicine has evolved into an accepted – if still somewhat controversial – alternative method of treatment for spinal conditions such as spinal stenosis, arthritis of the spine, herniated disc, bulging disc and more. Therapy generally takes the form of manual manipulation of the spine without medication or surgery, although many chiropractors emphasize a holistic approach to good health.

In essence, modern chiropractors believe:

• That the body has a powerful self-healing ability.
• That the structure of the spine and the functionality of the body are closely related.
• That therapy, in the form of manually returning the spine to its “normal” position, can facilitate the spine-body-health relationship.

Historically, chiropractors have been classified into two main groups:

• “Straights” – this refers to chiropractors who exercise strict adherence to Palmer’s original philosophy. These traditional chiropractors focus on what they perceive is an interference with the body’s “innate intelligence,” or a metaphysical relationship between the human nervous system and bodily function.
• “Mixers” – this refers to chiropractors who blend more modern medical beliefs with the chiropractic practice of manual manipulation of the spine. These practitioners accept that disease can be caused by something other than interference with the body’s “innate intelligence,” and might employ physical therapy, chiropractic massage, lifestyle modification counseling, nutrition counseling, hot-cold packs and other non-surgical methods of pain management. These chiropractors typically use more modern methods of examination and diagnosis, and generally attempt to achieve acceptance from the mainstream medical community.

An Alternative to Chiropractics

Many patients who have attempted unsuccessfully to manage chronic back or neck pain using chiropractic therapy have found relief at Laser Spine Institute. Contact Laser Spine Institute to learn how a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure performed using advanced endoscopic techniques can help you rediscover your life without back or neck pain.