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Chiropractic was "discovered" by David Daniel Palmer in 1895. As a
healer, he found that by manipulating the spine at specific levels
he could help heal problems in areas controlled by the nerves
originating from those areas. Although D.D. Palmer is known for the
discovery of Chiropractic,
Spinal
Manipulative Therapy (SMT) has been performed for thousands of years
in China by Traditional Chinese Physicians with a technique called
"Tui Na". Chiropractic Medicine is based on the
scientific fact that the nervous system controls every cell in the
body. The nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord, spinal
nerves, and all other nerves in the body. Every cell, from the tip
of your finger to the cells that form your heart muscle are
controlled by the nervous system. Without proper nerve conduction to
any tissue in the body, that tissue does not function properly. For
example, when people have injuries to the spinal cord and become
paralyzed, they cannot move parts of their body, the muscles shrink,
and they lose feeling of the effected area. This is directly related
to the degree of impaired or abnormal function of the nerve beyond
(distal to) the point of injury. Although Chiropractic does not
claim to effectively treat paralysis from traumatic injury,
"micro-injuries" that adversely affect the cells and tissues of the
body may occur and cause pain and dysfunction. These types of
injuries are treatable by a Chiropractic Physician.
There are places in the body where nerves and the flow of energy
within them can be adversely affected. Traditionally Chiropractic
Physicians have looked to the Spinal Column and the rest of the
skeletal system as the culprit of this impedance of nerve flow.
Bones may become positioned improperly and will not move properly.
From this arises compression of nerves that are between the bones.
In 1975, research showed that "pressure of only 10mm/Hg produced a
significant conduction block (of nerve energy), the potential (of
energy) falling to 60% of its initial value in 30 minutes. After
such a small compressive force is removed, nearly complete recovery
occurs in 15 to 30 minutes. With higher levels of pressure, we have
observed incomplete recovery after many hours of recording"
(Sharpless SK. Susceptibility of spinal roots to compression block.
1975). People often speak of "Pinched Nerves" that cause pain,
discomfort, and numbness in an area of their body. A "Pinched Nerve"
is actually a misnomer. Pinched nerves are most likely compressed
nerves, and do not cause paralysis, but rather dysfunction of
organs, cells and tissues. As little as 10mm/Hg of pressure on a
spinal nerve from a slightly displaced vertebral unit can cause as
much as a 60% decrease in activity of the nerve in 30 minutes!
Doctors of Chiropractic call this a "Subluxation". Subluxation is
defined as "Lack of proper position or motion of an osseous motor
unit (joint, or bones) that may impact proper nervous system
function". Chiropractic Physicians have the goal of eliminating
Subluxation, thereby eliminating not only the symptoms associated
with Subluxation, but also restoring proper function to the tissues
and organs controlled by the effected nerve. Chiropractors treat
subluxated people with the use of a very specific thrust to the area
of Subluxation. This specific, highly calculated thrust is called an
"Adjustment" by Doctors of Chiropractic and their Patients. |
