Did you know that the history of chiropractic care dates all the way back to 1895? That’s when Daniel David Palmer performed the first adjustment on a partially deaf janitor, Harvey Lillard, thereby restoring the man’s hearing.
Just two years later, Palmer would open the first school dedicated to teaching chiropractic. It would take another 16 years before the practice was recognized and licensed in Kansas, the first state to do so. Nowadays, chiropractic care is commonplace. It has helped many people around the globe. And it’s often covered by health insurance.
Interested to learn more fascinating chiropractic facts? Read on to learn about this treatment, its history, and its place in modern medicine.
1. “CHIROPRACTIC” MEANS “DONE BY HAND”
“Chiropractic” comes from two Greek words: cheir, or “hand,” and praktos, which means “done.”
Although modern-day chiropractors employ a variety of tools to assist in their treatment, they still rely largely on their hands and other body parts. Chiropractic adjustments are sometimes referred to as “manual therapies,” another nod to the use of the hand. Chiropractors use their hands to examine a patient’s body as well as perform the manual therapies that address problems and relieve pain.
2. THERE ARE ONE MILLION ADJUSTMENTS PERFORMED EVERY DAY
According to The Good Body, Monday through Friday, some one million Americans receive a chiropractic adjustment. That might seem like a startling statistic. However, it begins to make more sense when you crunch the numbers related to back pain.
In fact, 80% of Americans experience back pain at some point during their lives. Nearly a third of those who have an aching back say that the cause is stress.Not only that, but we spend a whopping $50 billion annually on treating our back pain!
3. IT’S NOT EASY TO BECOME A CHIROPRACTOR
It’s true that chiropractors are not the same as medical doctors. They cannot perform surgeries or write prescriptions. Nevertheless, after earning a four-year degree, students earn the right to be called a doctor — a Doctor of Chiropractic, that is.
To become a chiropractor, a student must graduate from an accredited chiropractic school. In order to enroll in this school, the student must have either a Bachelor’s degree or at least 90 semester hours of undergraduate coursework in a related field. During their education, students will participate in classroom lectures, laboratory sessions, and internships.
4. ALL OF THE NFL TEAMS USE CHIROPRACTORS
That’s right: Your favorite quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends all rely on chiropractic care to keep their bodies in prime physical condition. Each of the 32 teams in the National Football League has Doctors of Chiropractic on staff to provide adjustments to the players.
5. WE SPEND THE SAME AMOUNT ON PET SUPPLIES
What’s your back health worth to you? Is it as important as how cute your Maltese, Molly, looks in that darling little Christmas sweater? What about your cat Charlie’s rhinestone-studded collar?
Of course, it’s a bit silly to make comparisons like this. We love our pets, and we spend some $14 billion on them each year — the same as we spend on chiropractic care.
You can’t put a price on the love and companionship our furry friends provide, nor can you put a price on feeling pain-free.
6. CHIROPRACTIC IS ONE OF THE MOST STUDIED MEDICAL TREATMENTS
Some people think that chiropractic care is quackery — or, at best, an untested alternative practice. But chiropractic is well-respected among many medical professionals. And it has undergone intense scrutiny and study in the research community.
One study examined the differences in outcomes between prescription medications and spinal manipulation, or chiropractic. This study found that over half of the patients who received medication reported 30% less lower back pain after four weeks. Those who underwent chiropractic care, on the other hand? A whopping 94% experienced that 30% reduction in pain after a month.
Naturally, it’s up to the individual patient to do his or her research and determine whether or not chiropractic is the right choice. However, it has performed very well in clinical studies focusing on back pain, mobility, and overall patient outcomes.
7. CHIROPRACTIC IS GREAT COMPLEMENTARY CARE
The International Chiropractic Association (ICA) says that this type of care is now licensed and regulated within every U.S. state, as well as in countries around the globe. It’s come a long way since 1895 — and for that reason, it is often covered by health insurance. This is another one of the reassuring chiropractic facts that can convince skeptics to give it a try.
Chiropractic care can work wonders for your spinal health and your overall health, and many states allow chiropractors to fill the roll as primary care physicians capable of performing annual exams and school physicals.
Chiropractic works when used alone or as a complement to your regular medical care. It can save you money over visiting your general practitioner for certain complaints, like back pain or headaches. Many medical doctors refer to chiropractors to help their patients heal.
WHICH OF THESE CHIROPRACTIC FACTS SURPRISED YOU THE MOST?
As you can see, there are many interesting chiropractic facts and figures! Once you start to learn more about spinal manipulation and how it can help, you might be surprised!
Ready to see for yourself how chiropractic care can help you? Have you been in a car accident? Do you experience lower back pain, upper back pain, or neck pain? Maybe you have suffered a sports injury, or just do not feel as spry and mobile as you once did.
Regardless of what ails you, chiropractic can help. Give us a call and schedule an appointment. We’ll answer all your questions during a friendly, no-pressure consultation!