Dr DD Palmer began the chiropractic profession in 1895 when he delivered the first chiropractic adjustment to a man who had been deaf for 17 years after a back injury. The man's hearing was restored and chiropractic was born.
How did correcting a man's back problem correct his hearing? To answer that question, let's take a brief look at how the body works.
Your body is a self-regulating, self-healing organism. These important functions are controlled by the brain and spinal cord via the body's intricate system of nerves. Your nerves keep a close check on every one of the millions of things going on both inside and outside your body every second of every day, without you ever having to give it even a moment's thought.
The skull protects the delicate tissues of the brain. The moving bones of the spine protect the vulnerable communication pathways of the spinal cord and nerve roots. Tiny misalignments or abnormal movement of the spinal bones may interfere with the normal function of the nervous system.
Chiropractic doctors call this process "vertebral subluxation".
A subluxation is a complex of joint changes that compromise nervous system integrity and may influence organ system function and general health.
Sometimes subluxation might be caused by poor posture, bad sleeping habits, slips and falls, car accidents, sports impacts, strenuous exercise, work injuries, childhood falls. Even the birth process can cause subluxation for both mother and child. Chemical stress - such as dehydration or too much coffee or alcohol - may cause subluxation. Emotional tension may also lead to subluxation, a fact to which you may be able to relate if you've ever had a headache at the end of a busy day.
Chiropractors are the only doctors trained to find and correct subluxation. By correcting subluxations and removing nerve interference, chiropractors give your body a better chance at normal health and function.
Chiropractic treatments, called spinal adjustments, are gentle, comfortable and highly effective. People of all ages can receive chiropractic care to get healthy and stay healthy. Chiropractors are highly educated, caring professionals sensitive to the natural health care needs of you and your family.