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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. |
