An Overview of Chiropractic as an
Alternative Method of Healthcare
Marybeth Maselbas
Arizona State University
, 2
CHIROPRACTIC
An Overview of Chiropractic as an Alternative Method of Healthcare
If you have ever had a head, neck, or back injury, chances are you have seen or heard of a
chiropractor. Chiropractors are medical professionals that view health and use methods of
treatment and disease prevention that can be seen as drastically different than traditional
allopathic doctors of medicine (MDs). Chiropractors focus solely on the relationship between the
body’s structure—mainly the spine—and its functioning, and it is a relatively controversial form
of healing that has been in existence for over a century [CITATION Rac171 \p 92 \l 1033 ].
Chiropractic’s origins can be traced back as far as 1500 BCE in ancient Greek and Chinese
writings, yet the real concept of chiropractic medicine was not founded until 1895 in Davenport,
Iowa [CITATION Syn131 \p 179-80 \l 1033 ]. Daniel D. Palmer founded and coined the term
chiropractic from the Greek words cheir, meaning hand, and praktikos, meaning practice. Like
the founder of osteopathy, A.T. Still, Palmer studied magnetic healing and spinal manipulation,
and eventually came to the conclusion that spinal manipulation could heal about 95% of
diseases[CITATION Syn131 \p 180 \l 1033 ]. Palmer’s underlying theory of chiropractic was that
an interference in normal “mental impulses” between the brain and body organs produced
disease and that this interference is caused by subluxation, or misalignment, of the vertebrae of
the spine. This interference was believed the interrupt the flow of “vital energy” from the brain
through the nerves and spinal cord to the rest of the body [CITATION Rac171 \p 92 \l 1033 ]. In
order to treat the interference and subluxation, spinal manipulation is performed.
In 1896, Palmer founded the Palmer School of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa to teach
his spinal manipulation techniques; graduating four students just for years later. By 1916, nearly
7,000 chiropractors had opened practices, with that number more than doubling by 1930 as more
chiropractic schools opened nationwide [ CITATION Wei172 \l 1033 ]. Chiropractic at this point
Alternative Method of Healthcare
Marybeth Maselbas
Arizona State University
, 2
CHIROPRACTIC
An Overview of Chiropractic as an Alternative Method of Healthcare
If you have ever had a head, neck, or back injury, chances are you have seen or heard of a
chiropractor. Chiropractors are medical professionals that view health and use methods of
treatment and disease prevention that can be seen as drastically different than traditional
allopathic doctors of medicine (MDs). Chiropractors focus solely on the relationship between the
body’s structure—mainly the spine—and its functioning, and it is a relatively controversial form
of healing that has been in existence for over a century [CITATION Rac171 \p 92 \l 1033 ].
Chiropractic’s origins can be traced back as far as 1500 BCE in ancient Greek and Chinese
writings, yet the real concept of chiropractic medicine was not founded until 1895 in Davenport,
Iowa [CITATION Syn131 \p 179-80 \l 1033 ]. Daniel D. Palmer founded and coined the term
chiropractic from the Greek words cheir, meaning hand, and praktikos, meaning practice. Like
the founder of osteopathy, A.T. Still, Palmer studied magnetic healing and spinal manipulation,
and eventually came to the conclusion that spinal manipulation could heal about 95% of
diseases[CITATION Syn131 \p 180 \l 1033 ]. Palmer’s underlying theory of chiropractic was that
an interference in normal “mental impulses” between the brain and body organs produced
disease and that this interference is caused by subluxation, or misalignment, of the vertebrae of
the spine. This interference was believed the interrupt the flow of “vital energy” from the brain
through the nerves and spinal cord to the rest of the body [CITATION Rac171 \p 92 \l 1033 ]. In
order to treat the interference and subluxation, spinal manipulation is performed.
In 1896, Palmer founded the Palmer School of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa to teach
his spinal manipulation techniques; graduating four students just for years later. By 1916, nearly
7,000 chiropractors had opened practices, with that number more than doubling by 1930 as more
chiropractic schools opened nationwide [ CITATION Wei172 \l 1033 ]. Chiropractic at this point
