10 Interesting Facts About Chiropractic

Therapeutic spinal manipulation has existed for at least 2500 years and chiropractic care aswe know it today began over a hundred years ago. Since that time, its gained recognitionworldwide as an effective form of medical care. Patient satisfaction is typically very high andstudies have shown that, compared to conventional medical care, chiropractic is more safeand financially feasible. Its no surprise that many people enjoy chiropractic coverage through

their insurance and its even offered to men and women serving in the military. [1]

Clearly, chiropractic is accepted, widely used, and familiar to most people. Its also aprofession in which a number of interesting footnotes have come to exist. Lets take a look at afew of the lesser-known facts about chiropractic.

1. May Help Torture SurvivorsTorture and trauma are real horrors that can cause survivors to experience pain, depression,PTSD, and other horrible, long-term problems. Could a wellness approach help to make themwell? It seems so. The Boston University School of Public Health reports that some forms ofcomplementary and alternative medicine such as meditation, massage, acupuncture, andchiropractic may be effective as part of a comprehensive approach for treating survivors of

torture and trauma. [2]

2. Chiropractic is Worldwide

Chiropractic is popular all over the world. Although the chiropractic profession was founded

in the United States in 1895, spinal manipulation has a long history of use in China. [3] By the1960s it spread to Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa. Its more recently extended

across Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Australia. [4] [5] In fact, in Australia, one in fouradults have consulted with a chiropractor and nearly 40% of the elderly population rely on

complementary and alternative medicine like chiropractic. [6] [7]

3. The Paper Sheet Really WorksIf you think about it, the average chiropractors table probably comes in contact with as manypeople as the average park bench. As such, hygiene standards are important to make sure the

facilities do not become a petri dish of disgusting pathogens. [8] In 2011, the CanadianMemorial Chiropractic College evaluated the cleanliness of area chiropractic clinics and foundthat, while bacteria was a valid concern, most chiropractors were proactive with disinfection

and the paper sheet used to cover the table headpieces was an effective barrier. [9] Make sureyour chiropractor has their table cleaned and sanitized between each visit!

4. The Amish Like Chiropractic TooThe Amish may reject many of the modern conveniences many of us enjoy, but there is nodenying that they have somewhat of a reputation for embracing a robust, natural approach tomaintaining good health an approach that is quite similar to wellness. Its no surprise thatthis has lead to an acceptance of complementary and alternative medicine in the Amishcommunity. A few years ago, the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicineconducted a survey of Amish women concerning their use of CAM and reported that thirty-

six percent used nutritional supplements, herbal therapies, and chiropractic medicine. [10]

5. Chiropractors Do it BetterIts not uncommon for an adjustment to produce an almost orgasmic moan of relief. If youveever had a kink in your neck that a chiropractor was able to remedy, you know what Imtalking about. It begs the question, why does it feel so good? Well, in addition to unpinchingpinched nerves, realigning the misaligned, and generally guiding things back where they needto be, manipulation stimulates muscular and tendon sensory receptors to produce an

excitatory effect on the central nervous system. [11]

6. Sometimes the Healers Need HealingBeing a chiropractor can be physically demanding and there are times when performing anadjustment requires you to throw your back into it. Unfortunately, chiropractors arentimmune to throwing their back out. In 2006, the Los Angeles College of Chiropracticsurveyed 1000 United States chiropractors to determine what work-related injuries theyveexperienced. Respondents said that the most common affected their hand, shoulder, andlower back and occurred while performing an adjustment or positioning a patient. Givingcredence to experience, it was also found that most injuries occurred in the first five years of

practice. [12]

7. Female Chiropractors Can Hold Their OwnAs said, being a chiropractor can present physical demands and performing an adjustmentcan require a lot of thrust. This has led some, not myself, to squint their eyes and wonder ifsmaller-framed female chiropractors can cut the mustard. Well guys, fear not. Whenresearchers at the University of Victoria pitted the abilities of 14 male chiropractors against 14female chiropractors, they found that female chiropractors are just as able as their male

colleagues. [13]

8. A Little More Diversity Would be NiceThe Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reported that the average chiropractic

patient in 2008 was white, female, of higher income, and residing in a small metro area. [14]

And, although Medicare covers chiropractic care, the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy& Clinical Practice found that from 2002-2008, 97% of Medicare-covered recipients of

chiropractic care were white. [15]

Why is this? Everyone can benefit from chiropractic. I would really love to hear somefeedback what can the chiropractic industry do to attract a more accurate sampling of ourdiverse American population?

9. Dont Let Your Untrained Friend Adjust YouHey dude! Will you pop my back? Have you ever heard someone say that? Worse, have youever said it? Worse yet, have you been the one to do the popping? Stop it! Proper chiropracticcare involves more than a few simple motions and manipulation is only safe when performedby someone who has received the necessary training. Chiropractic is not monkey-see,monkey-do! Do you need proof? In 2001, a man in India developed severe spinal cord and

brainstem problems after receiving an adjustment from a barber. [16] Thats just one example.Bad idea.

10. One of the Most Successful Chiropractors Everwas BlindVision impairment does not make a person incapable, and a fantastic example of that was Dr.Charles Robinson Johnson. In 1918, when he was 39, Dr. Johnson graduated from the PalmerSchool of Chiropractic and became the first blind chiropractor, and one of the mostsuccessful. For over 25 years he practiced in Peekskill, New York and had a well traveledreputation as a miracle healer, seeing hundreds of patients each week. The newspapers evencalled him, The Man Who Made Peekskill Famous. Quite an achievement for someone born

in a mining camp! [17]

-Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM

References:

1. DeVocht JW. History and overview of theories and methods of chiropractic: acounterpoint. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2006 Mar;444:243-9.

2. Longacre M, Silver-Highfield E, Lama P, Grodin M. Complementary and alternativemedicine in the treatment of refugees and survivors of torture: a review and proposal foraction. Torture. 2012;22(1):38-57.

3. Chapman-Smith DA. Legislative approaches to the regulation of the chiropracticprofession. Med Law. 1997;16(3):437-49.

4. Li YK, Zhong SZ. Spinal manipulation in China. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1998 Jul-Aug;21(6):399-401.

5. Assendelft WJ, Pfeifle CE, Bouter LM. Chiropractic in The Netherlands: a survey ofDutch chiropractors. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1995 Mar-Apr;18(3):129-34.

6. Xue CC, Zhang AL, Lin V, Myers R, Polus B, Story DF. Acupuncture, chiropractic andosteopathy use in Australia: a national population survey. BMC Public Health. 2008 Apr1;8:105. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-8-105.

7. Zhang AL, Xue CC, Lin V, Story DF. Complementary and alternative medicine use byolder Australians. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2007 Oct;1114:204-15.

8. Bifero AE, Prakash J, Bergin J. The role of chiropractic adjusting tables as reservoirs formicrobial diseases. Am J Infect Control. 2006 Apr;34(3):155-7.

9. Puhl AA, Reinhart CJ, Puhl NJ, Selinger LB, Injeyan HS. An investigation of bacterialcontamination on treatment table surfaces of chiropractors in private practice andattitudes and practices concerning table disinfection. Am J Infect Control. 2011Feb;39(1):56-63. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2010.05.029.

10. von Gruenigen VE, Showalter AL, Gil KM, Frasure HE, Hopkins MP, Jenison EL.Complementary and alternative medicine use in the Amish. Complement Ther Med.2001 Dec;9(4):232-3.

11. Pickar JG. Neurophysiological effects of spinal manipulation. Spine J. 2002 Sep-Oct;2(5):357-71.

12. Holm SM, Rose KA. Work-related injuries of doctors of chiropractic in the UnitedStates. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2006 Sep;29(7):518-23.

13. Forand D, Drover J, Suleman Z, Symons B, Herzog W. The forces applied by female andmale chiropractors during thoracic spinal manipulation. J Manipulative Physiol Ther.2004 Jan;27(1):49-56.

14. Zodet MW, Stevans JM. The 2008 prevalence of chiropractic use in the US adultpopulation. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2012 Oct;35(8):580-8. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2012.10.001.

15. Whedon JM, Song Y. Racial disparities in the use of chiropractic care under Medicare.Altern Ther Health Med. 2012 Nov-Dec;18(6):20-6.

16. Misra UK, Kalita J, Khandelwal D. Consequences of neck manipulation performed by anon-professional. Spinal Cord. 2001 Feb;39(2):112-3.

17. Rehm WS. The man who made Peekskill famous: Dr. C.R. Johnstonfirst blindchiropractor. Chiropr Hist. 1998 Dec;18(2):81-92.

Join our monthly Healthy Living Newsletter. Take control of your health today!

This entry was posted in Green Living, Natural Remedies

About Dr Edward Group III DC, ND, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM

Dr. Group has studied natural healing methods for over 20 years and now teaches individualsand practitioners all around the world. He no longer sees patients but solely concentrates onspreading the word of health and wellness to the global community. Under his leadership,Global Healing Center, Inc. has earned recognition as one of the largest alternative, naturaland organic health resources on the Internet.