History of Chiropractic

For centuries, scientists, physicians-even philosophers-have long believed that the body's spinal cord is at the root of many ailments. The roots of chiropractic care can be traced all the way back to the beginning of recorded time. Writings from China and Greece written in 2700 B.C. and 1500 B.C. mention spinal manipulation and the maneuvering of the lower extremities to ease low back pain. Hippocrates, the Greek physician, also published texts detailing the importance of chiropractic care. In one of his writings he declares, "Get knowledge of the spine, for this is the requisite for many diseases".

The birth of the Chiropractic profession as we know it, however, did not occur until the late 19th century. In 1895, Daniel David Palmer founded the Chiropractic profession in Davenport, Iowa. Palmer was well read in medical journals of his time and had great knowledge of the developments that were occurring throughout the world regarding anatomy and physiology. On September 18, 1895, while working at the Palmer Cure & Infirmary, Palmer came upon a revelation while talking to the building's janitor, Harvey Lillard. Lillard related to Palmer that he had lost much of his hearing after suffering a back injury. This information reinforced something he had long suspected, that there was a connection between the misalignment of the spinal column to various maladies. Palmer suspected that if he were to pop the vertebrae in Lillard’s back to its original position, it would restore his hearing. Using a technique he called the “spinous process”. Palmer gently repositioned the vertebra.

Lillard’s hearing began to return. He continued the treatments and each day his hearing gradually improved. Palmer named this new treatment technique “chiropractic” from the Greek words, “chiro”, meaning hand, and “practice”, meaning practice.

Even though he had many early successes treating a variety of maladies, Palmer’s treatment ideas were not readily accepted by the medical community. In fact, a one point Palmer was indicted for practicing medicine without a license and was sentenced to 105 days in jail and order to pay a $350 fine.

Despite early skepticism from conventional medical practitioners, Palmer’s son Bartlett Joshua, carried on his father’s work and was instrumental in getting chiropractic recognized as a licensed profession. The established medical community's assault on the chiropractic profession continued even as late as the 1970s, when a group of chiropractors sued the American Medical Association and several other medical organizations for disseminating untrue and damaging information about their profession. The plaintiffs alleged that the AMA and others deliberately lied in order to destroy the chiropractic field because they viewed it as a threat, or competition, for their health care dollars. The court agreed with the chiropractors and called the AMA's actions "lawless" and unfounded. The case was eventually heard in the United States Supreme Court, which upheld the original verdict against the AMA.

However, much has changed since then. The chiropractic profession has grown into a respected branch of the healing arts. It has gained legal recognition in all fifty states and throughout the world. Research that has emerged over the years has yielded incredibly influential results, which have changed perceptions of chiropractic care. One report, “Chiropractic in New Zealand”, strongly supported the efficacy of chiropractic care and elicited medical cooperation in conjunction with chiropractic care. The 1993 “Manga” study, published in Canada, investigated the cost effectiveness of chiropractic care. The results of this study concluded that chiropractic care would save hundreds of millions of dollars annually with regard to work disability payments and direct health care costs.

Today the medical community has come to recognize the value of chiropractic care. More than a century after its founding, hundreds of thousands of patients routinely receive care and relief from their suffering through chiropractic treatment.

Palmer School of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, has continued to be one of the most prominent chiropractic colleges in the nation.