In terms of medicine, chiropractic manipulation is a relatively new science. It was first practiced in the late 1800s and developed amid strong opposition in the medical field during the 1900s. Over the years, advances in the study of chiropractic medicine have developed significantly. Today, it is more widely accepted and practiced throughout the world. It is interesting to see how far the science has developed in such a short space of time. Let’s have a look at the humble beginnings of chiropractic methods.
The Founder of Chiropractic Manipulation
It was in Iowa in 1895 that the first chiropractic manipulation was officially recorded. Daniel David Palmer who performed the adjustment is widely regarded as the father and founder of chiropractic medicine. The treatment was performed on a janitor by the name of Harvey Lillard who was partially deaf at the time. It is reported that following a spinal realignment treatment, Harvey Lillard regained a level of his hearing. In a second case, D.D. Palmer reported to improve a heart condition after discovering that the spinal column was pressing against the nerves that innervated the heart. After some manipulation of the spine, the heart condition seemed to improve. It was largely due to the successful treatment of these two completely unrelated ailments that D.D. Palmer believed that spinal alignment could be an alternative means to cure other medical conditions. It was claims that chiropractic alterations could heal all medical ailments that led to it being regarded as unscientific and unworthy of recognition by medical professionals. It was this strong opposition that led to the arrest and jailing of many chiropractors of the time, including D.D. Palmer. The charge was that they were practicing medicine without proper licenses. Undeterred, D.D. Palmer opened the first chiropractic school in 1897 and started teaching on the value of spinal manipulation. The school was the foundation upon which the study of chiropractic methods was built.
Development of Chiropractic Methods
D.D. Palmer’s son, B.J. Palmer, was instrumental in developing and exploring the science of spinal manipulation and chiropractic adjustment. He was one of the Palmer School of Chiropractic’s first graduates and took over the running of the school in 1906. He was often controversial in that he saw the value of introducing science to chiropractic alignment. While many other chiropractors were against the use of x-rays, B.J. Palmer believed they could aid in more accurate diagnoses and treatment of patients. B.J. Palmer also promoted a level of professionalism. He founded the Universal Chiropractic Association with the initial purpose to protect members and help cover legal costs in the event that they get arrested. There were more than 15,000 legal cases brought against chiropractors in the first 30 years of its development. Medical professionals and governments associations seemed determined that the practice of chiropractors was unscientific and should not be allowed. However, its study and development was fueled by those who believed in the methods. B.J. Palmer viewed chiropractic manipulation as a business as well as a science and aimed to train and school as many people as possible. In the early 1900s, many more chiropractic schools were founded in the United States.
The War Between Traditional Medicine and Chiropractic Adjustment
Since its inception, chiropractic adjustments have had to fight for medical recognition. In the early years, chiropractors were systematically arrested and prosecuted for practicing medicine without a license. There was little confidence given to chiropractors by medical professionals and often they were referred to as quacks. Some medical doctors sought to introduce elements of chiropractic alignment into their practices and similarly some chiropractors integrated aspects of modern medicine. These were known as “mixers” and were not accepted by those who sought to keep chiropractic manipulation a separate field of study. This debate cause great controversy and confusion in the industry. In the mid-1960s, there was a concerted effort by medical associations to discredit and ultimately try to eliminate chiropractic methods. They sought to prevent medical health care plans from covering chiropractic treatments. They continued to distance themselves from chiropractic associations and discredit them. They also sought to influence legislation with regards to chiropractors.
A More Scientific Approach
By the 1970s, more detailed scientific research was invested in the theories of chiropractic practices. The result was that some approaches in the chiropractic schools were changed and chiropractic methods started to get more widely accepted by the medical profession. While the debate between medical professionals and chiropractors continues today, the practice of chiropractic medicine is far more developed and therefore receives professional recognition as an alternative and natural treatment method.
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