National Chiropractic Health Month

Fall is an important season for the chiropractic industry. September 18^th is the official birthday of the chiropractic profession, and October is National Chiropractic Health Month! While October is more commonly connected to Halloween and autumn, this actually is a great time to shine the spotlight on chiropractic care and to take a look at some of its history, benefits, and appeal. We’re going ‘back’ to basics about chiropractic care in this blog. A local Burnsville, MN chiropractor offers some insight about the field below. 

What Is The History Of National Chiropractic Health Month?

The event was started by the American Chiropractic Association, America’s largest chiropractic organization. The goal was to raise awareness about the importance of the spine and about musculoskeletal health in general.

Every year, the event has a different focus. This year, it is upon healthspan. This term may be new to you, but it makes a lot of sense: it describes the years we live in good health, free of major pain or illness, and are able to do the things that are important to us. A strong and healthy musculoskeletal system is crucial to a good healthspan.

Evidence soundly supports the chiropractic approach to treating joint pain, neck pain, and back pain, which is in fact the main leading cause of disability. Chiropractic treatment also does not rely on the use of drugs or medicine, and is safe for nearly everyone.

Why Is September 18^th Important For Chiropractors?

This is the date that Dr. Daniel David Palmer performed his very first chiropractic adjustment. This happened back in 1895. Over the past hundred and 25 years or so, the unofficial holiday has changed names a few times. It’s been Chiropractic Founder’s Day, Chiropractic Rally Day, Chiropractic Anniversary, and Chiropractic Discovery Day.

How Many Americans See A Chiropractor?

There isn’t an exact count, but research indicates that about 35 million Americans are treated by a chiropractor every year. That figure includes both adults and children.

How Did D.D. Palmer Discover Chiropractic Care?

It’s actually quite an interesting story. It ultimately boils down to the fact that Palmer was very curious about what made people healthy or unhealthy. His ponderings led him down some fairly unorthodox paths, but also did bring him to what would turn out to be his life’s work. Palmer believed that the body has the capacity to heal itself naturally, and felt that this healing power or energy was delivered through the spine. Therefore, any blockages or misalignments, which he termed subluxations, would interfere with this process.

Things get a bit fuzzy here, as there are a few different versions of what happened next. The official story is that Palmer had been speaking to a man who worked as a janitor in the building his office was in. The janitor, Harvey Lillard, had severe hearing impairments, which he said had started very suddenly after his back had popped one day. Lillard explained that he had been bent over in a very hunched position when he heard and felt his spine ‘pop’. He immediately lost most of his hearing. Palmer examined Lillard’s back and found a noticeable lump. Lillard allowed him to try pushing the vertebrae back into place. The result? Hilliard’s hearing was restored.

It is definitely worth noting that this version of the story is not uncontested. Lillard’s daughter has a much simpler version: Palmer slapped Lillard on the back as a bemused response to the punch line of a joke Lillard was telling.

Regardless of how it happened, Lillard’s hearing improved after that fateful slap, and D.D. Palmer went on to establish the foundations of chiropractic care. He also founded Palmer School and Infirmary of Chiropractic, which is now known as the Palmer College of Chiropractic. The school is still in operation today. In fact, it is one of the most respected schools on chiropractic care in the world. His family is still involved with the institute to this day.

What Exactly Is Chiropractic Care?

Chiropractic care focuses on the back and joints, with the relationship between the spine and the nervous system the center of focus. The ACA offers the following definition:

Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health.

The chiropractor applies pressure in a specific way. They will either use their hands or sometimes, a special instrument, on the joint.

The effects can be quite powerful. Here are some of the benefits:

• Realign Joints
• Relieve Stiffness
• Less Pain
• Improve And/Or Restore Range Of Motion
• Release Tension
• Better Sleep
• Improved Immunity 
• Improves posture
• Helps Fitness/Athletic performance

Some people only need chiropractic care for a specific amount of time. For instance, one may need realignments after an injury or car accident. Others do best with regular, ongoing adjustments. Your chiropractor will be able to create a customized plan after evaluating you.

It’s Very Safe

Chiropractic care has suffered from a bit of bad PR. However, if you look at the actual numbers, you’ll see that it’s extremely safe. In fact, numerous studies have shown that the odds of adverse instances are quite low. For instance, one study found an injury rate of about 40 per 100,000. The injury rate for those going to primary care doctors was 153 per 100,000. 

Drug-Free Option

Modern medicine can work wonders, and has saved countless lives. However, many people are wary of taking too many medications, and with good reason. The side effects and potential risks can be extremely dangerous. 

Chiropractic treatments do not require the use of any drugs or medication. 

It’s Effective

When looking over any possible options for health care, you’ll of course want to look and see how effective it is. 

• Research from the Annals of Internal Medicine found that patients who used a chiropractor and/or exercise instead of medicine were more than twice as likely to be free of pain than those who were utilizing medication. 
• A different study found that chiropractic patients were a whopping 64% less likely to have opioid prescriptions than non-patients. 
• A 2015 study found that the majority of the 544 participants had a ‘high level’ of satisfaction with their chiropractic care. 
• 92 percent of those participants also reported having less pain, and 80 percent had improved

mobility. 

Those are just a few of the results from various studies. 

How Many Chiropractors Are There In The US? 

There are currently over 70,000 licensed chiropractors here in the U.S. in addition to that, there are about 40,000 assistants. Another 3000 work in offices or other related roles. There are currently about 10,000 students, who are spread out over 18 different nationally accredited programs. Every year, about 2500 chiropractors enter the workforce. 

How Much Training Do Chiropractors Need? 

To become a licensed chiropractor, one must complete a nationally accredited four-year doctoral graduate course. This would entail a minimum of 4200 hours, which would include classroom, laboratory, and clinical internship. Chiropractors have the same designation as physicians in most U.S. states. The Medicare program also lists them in that tier. 

Make An Appointment At Our Burnsville, MN Chiropractic Care Center 

Are you curious to learn more about chiropractic care? Please feel free to reach out to us here at Amesbarry Chiropractic, anytime. As your Burnsville, MN chiropractic clinic, we are here to help!