IntroductionIntroduction The world “ Chiropractic”came from the Greek words cheir and praktikos, which means “done by hands”.Chiropractic treatments began thousands of years before the birth of Christ.Early missionaries who visited China found an ancient manuscript called the Cong Fou Document,which was written around 2700 BC.This ancient Chinese paper shows definite details of practitioners using soft tissue manipulation to treat a variety of problems. Other early civilizations also treated conditions of the spine with manipulation.Among the many peoples around the world who have used this simple but effective treatment were the early Babylonians,the Egyptians,the Japanese,the Indians of Asia,and many more ancient civilizations. Chiropractic never bacame a valid,written science until the latter part of the ninteenth century.Manipulative therapy,however,continued in various forms throughout the many centuries in between. In Tahiti,gentle
movement of the spine has been used for hundreds of years as a treatment.On
examination of these old records,their diagrams and treatment manuals;
One of the cruder methods of manipulation was used by the North American Indians.They would walk on the back of the person being treated,thus forcing a type of harsh spinal realingment to tkae place.Winnebago,Sioux and Creek Indians were some of the more notable tribes who participated in the activity of rough adjustment.In Central and South America,the Mayan and Inca Indians were also pratitioners of this ancient art of manipulation. In order to be at the birth of what we consider to be modern Chiropractic,we must look to the United States,in the year 1895.At that time there were no real doctor who treated the sick in the sense that we have them today.There was no standardisation of education to arrive at a degree of Doctor of the healing arts.In many cases, a person who would treat the sick or injured, was considered a phyiscian or healer, simply by the acquisition of some very basic skills and knowledge of what was available at the time,either via an apprenticeship or through process of self-training. Therefore,it was no wonder that the average person’s lifespan at that particular time was limited to what we now consider to be middle age.It should also be noted that in that era,surgery was performed without any anaesthesia or regard to cleanliness,and possibly in some areas by the local barber. Disease was the greatest killer of the time,causing a very high mortality amongst children in particular.Sanitation was almost unheard of.Into this arena came a grocer and former teacher turned healer called Daniel David Palmer who is considered to be the father of modern Chiropratic. Whilst Chiropractic is the healthcare newcomer in some countries,in the United States where it originated,and has been perfected,it is considered part of the mainstream healthcare system.Chiropractic has been recognised by many countries for treating neuromusculoskeleton disorders and injuries. Philpsophy of Chiropractic Treatment The Chiropractis treatment is soundly based upon certain accepted,scientific and biological principles.The Central Nervous System is composed of the brain and the spinal cord;this is the body’s “master system”,under which all body functions are controlled and monitored. The disease process may be affected by disturbances of the nervous system,such as lack of exercise,poor nutrition,obesity,dangerous chemicals in our foodchain,stress,injury,germs,and musculoskeleton imbalance.It is the Chiropractic philosophy that a healthy,strong,flexible and alinged spine is necessary for an uninterrupted communication between the various body parts and systems,and the brain itself. The malfunctioning of the nervous system may be caused by the vertebrae of the spine being displaced,resulting in what is known as a classical subluxation.There are also conditions that affect spine that could be termed muscular compression syndrome where the vertrebrae may not be misalinged,but rather compressed due to injury or over-used muscles that have gone into spasm,and thus hold the vertrebrae in a painful vice-like grip.This condition may cause one or several discs to be irritated,painful, and ever so slightly swollen.There are nerve fibres in the discs which are called sensory,and will send a pain signal to the brain. The dysfunction of the spine may disturb and create imbalances in different parts of the body causing the system to malfunction,and thus be more susceptible to disease.
Chiropractic works in a very natural way,because there are no drugs or surgery.The Doctor of Chiropractic uses his hands to gently move the spine,and unlock jammed vertrebrae.There are many different techniques that Chiropractors use.Some will work on the muscles first,and then the spine.Some may use different physiotherapies to release muscle tension and spasm,reduce swelling,or increase the circulation to the areas that are being worked on.These therapies may precede or follow the adjustment. The Chiropractor,will treat the spine and the person as an integrated system,trying to free up abnormal spinal position,and letting the body get back to its normal healthy condition.He will also consider other predisposing factors that may have brought the patient to him.If someone is clearly overweight,this creates a burden on the spine,which has been built specially to the individual’s own unique normal,healthy weight. In many cases a Chiropractor will recommend a weight loss program to his patient to be followed in conjuction with the treatmnet to help eliminate one of the probable causes of the person’s spinal problem.An overworked spine becomes a weak spine,which in turn,becomes an unhealthy spine. The objective should be to get the patient out of pain,rehabilitate the injured/dysfunctional area,and to provide a proper exercise programme, which will help prevent the problem reoccuring. Chiropractic is a physical approach to mechanical problems of the spine and its supportive and related structures,which could also be the cause of other pathological problems.The Chiropractor treats his patient by adjusting or manipulating the spine.When this structure is in its proper and normal position,the nervous system can send out signals from in between the vertrebrae,via the spinal nerves,to every part of the body.These signals will go to the top of the head,and to the tip of the toes.They will tell the heart to beat over 100,000 times a day.They will control the movement of over 600 muscles. The most commonly treated conditions by a qualified Chiropractor are as follows:
|
