Chiropractic Care — 11 Things That May Surprise You

Chiropractic is one of the most misunderstood medical professions.  Although therapeutic spinal manipulation has been around for thousands of years, chiropractic has only been used in Western countries for about 100 years.  This makes it a relatively new field compared to most other medical specialisations and research and evidence in chiropractic continues to grow.  To help you gain a little more insight into the field, here are 11 surprising facts about chiropractic and chiropractors that our chiropractors in Stoke on Trent and Newcastle Under Lyme want to share with you.

#1 – Chiropractic care is worldwide

Chiropractic originated in the United States in 1895, when Daniel David Palmer hypothesised that manipulation of the spine could cure disease.  In the 1960’s it became popular in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.  It then swept across Europe, Asia, and Latin America to the point where you can now find a chiropractor in virtually every major city on the planet. 

#2 – The chiropractor helps your body heal itself

Chiropractic care doesn’t magically heal your body.  It simply restores the proper range of motion to your musculoskeletal system.  By fixing mobility problems that your musculoskeletal system has, chiropractic care takes stress off of the central nervous system and allows the body to heal itself naturally.

#3 – Chiropractors can treat a wide range of health problems

Most people associate chiropractic care with the treatment of back problems.  However, there are many more health conditions that can helped with chiropractic care.  These include headaches, certain types of dizziness,  poor posture, shoulder problems, sporting injuries.

#4 – Most professional athletes visit the chiropractor

It’s common for professional athletes to visit chiropractors to maintain the health of their musculoskeletal system and to treat sporting injuries.  Some famous athletes who have used regularly used chiropractors include Usain Bolt, Tiger Woods and Tom Brady.

#5 – Most chiropractic adjustments don’t hurt

If you have seen a chiropractor performing adjustments on a patient, you might assume that it is painful due to the cracking noises that are sometimes heard.  Surprisingly, the chiropractic adjustment process is completely painless most of the time.  Chiropractors only use a small amount of force to guide your musculoskeletal system back into alignment and it is very rare to experience any pain.

#6 – Chiropractic is beneficial for people of all ages

While it’s no surprise that adults and the elderly turn to chiropractors for help, you might be surprised to learn that young babies and children can also benefit from chiropractic care.  People of all ages can experience issues with their musculoskeletal system, including misalignment of joints and injuries.

In fact, school children who carry heavy backpacks around all day at school often develop sore backs and require chiropractic care.  It is a good idea for parents to have their children assessed by a chiropractor to diagnose any issues and address them before they become a more serious problem.

#7 – One of the leading chiropractors was blind
Chiropractors develop an incredible familiarity with the human body.  They can feel if a spine is correctly aligned by simply running their finger along it.  This familiarity is exemplified by Dr. Charles Robinson Johnson, a blind man who graduated from the Palmer School of Chiropractic in 1918.  Dr. Johnson went on to have a highly successful career, treating thousands of patients around the United States in a career that lasted more than 25 years.

#8 – Chiropractors often have to visit a chiropractor

Working as a chiropractor can be very physically demanding.  They are often forced to stand in uncomfortable positions as they make adjustments and are constantly on the move.  This can sometimes result in back injuries or misalignments.  As a result, it’s very common for chiropractors to need to the services of a fellow chiropractor.

#9 – People who visit chiropractors tend to be healthier

A study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that people who used a chiropractor as their primary healthcare provider had 60% fewer hospital admissions and 83% less pharmaceutical costs.

#10 – It is claimed that the first chiropractic treatment restored a man’s hearing

The first procedure performed by Daniel David Palmer was on a man who had lost his hearing after suffering from a back injury.  17 years after the injury occurred the patient visited Palmer and received a spinal adjustment.   It is claimed that after the treatment the patient regained his hearing!

#11 – Fundamental principles of chiropractic treatment go back many years

Although chiropractic has only been around for 124 years, its fundamental principles go back much further.  Ancient Greek and Chinese doctors were known to make physical adjustments to the spine to correct common ailments and treat injuries.  Hippocrates himself suggested that the physical structure is the basis of all medicine. They believed that if a person’s physical structure (musculoskeletal system) is misaligned, it can lead to a variety of ailments.

Chiropractic is a safe and effective treatment for patients of all ages. Our team of experienced chiropractors at our award winning chiropractic clinics in Stoke on Trent and Newcastle under Lyme are her to help you. You can contact City Chiropractic Clinic in Stoke on 01782 848 184 or Newcastle Chiropractic Clinic on 01782 711 191 to book an appointment.