For thousands of years manipulating the spine and joints to relieve tension and stresses on the skeletal and nervous systems has been practiced by those who have studied medicine and wellness. The father of medicine, the Greek philosopher and medical pioneer, Hippocrates, published works on the importance of the practice and urged his students to become expert in its uses and applications.
The modern chiropractic profession began in 1895 when Daniel David Palmer restored the hearing of Harvey Lillard by manually adjusting his neck. Just two years later Dr. Palmer opened the Palmer School of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, which continues to train doctors of chiropractic medicine to this day. Dr. Andreasen studied at Palmer and received is Doctoral degree there.
The chiropractic profession has gained recognition and scientific support as several universities and research institutions have validated the results and value of chiropractic care in reducing health care costs, improving recovery rates and increasing patient satisfaction. A large study conducted in Canada, the 1993 Manga Study, concluded that chiropractic care would save hundreds of millions of dollars annually in work disability payments and direct health care costs if all appropriate cases were referred to doctors of chiropractic. Several major studies conducted by the U.S. Government, the Rand Corporation and others, have likewise demonstrated the great value of chiropractic care.
Spinal adjustments to correct subluxations are what make doctors of chiropractic unique in comparison with any other type of health care professional. The term “adjustment” refers to the specific force chiropractors apply to vertebrae that have abnormal movement patterns or fail to function normally.
The objective of the chiropractic adjustment is to reduce the subluxation, which results in an increased range of motion, reduced nerve irritability, reduced muscle spasm, reduced pain and improved function.The chiropractic adjustment is a quick thrust applied to a vertebra for the purpose of correcting its position, movement or both
