Chiropractic: An Introduction

Overview and history
The term "chiropractic" combines the greek words cheir (hand) and praxis (action) to describe a treatment done by hand. Hands-on therapy—especially adjustment of the spine—is central to chiropractic care. Chiropractic, which in the united states is considered part of complementary and alternative medicinea group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine, and alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. (cam), is based on these key concepts:
* the body has a powerful self-healing ability.
* the body's structure (primarily that of the spine) and its function are closely related, and this relationship affects health.
* therapy aims to normalize this relationship between structure and function and assist the body as it heals.

While some procedures associated with health chiropractic care can be traced back to ancient times, the modern profession of chiropractic was founded by daniel david palmer in 1895 in davenport, iowa. Palmer, a self-taught healer, believed that the body has a natural healing ability. Misalignments of the spine can interfere with the flow of energy needed to support health, palmer theorized, and the key to health is to normalize the function of the nervous system, especially the spinal cord.
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Patterns of use

According to the 2007 national health interview survey, which included a comprehensive survey of cama group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine, and alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. Use by americans, about 8 percent of american adults and nearly 3 percent of children had received chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation in the past 12 months. Adjusted to nationally representative numbers, these percentages mean that more than 18 million adults and 2 million children received chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation in the previous year.
Many people who seek chiropractic care have chronic, pain-related health conditions. Low-back pain, neck pain, and headache are common conditions for which people seek chiropractic treatment.

What to expect from chiropractic visits
During the initial visit, health chiropractics typically take a health history and perform a physical examination, with a special emphasis on the spine. Other examinations or tests such as x-rays may also be performed. If chiropractic treatment is considered appropriate, a treatment plan will be developed.
During followup visits, practitioners may perform one or more of the many different types of adjustments used in chiropractic care. Given mainly to the spine, a chiropractic adjustment (sometimes referred to as a manipulation) involves using the hands or a device to apply a controlled, sudden force to a joint, moving it beyond its passive range of motion. The goal is to increase the range and quality of motion in the area being treated and to aid in restoring health. Other hands-on therapies such as mobilization (movement of a joint within its usual range of motion) also may be used.
Chiropractors may combine the use of spinal adjustments with several other treatments and approaches such as:
* heat and ice
* electrical stimulation
* rest
* rehabilitative exercise
* counseling about diet, weight loss, and other lifestyle factors
* dietary supplements.



Http://nccam.nih.gov/health/chiropractic