Whether you visit the chiropractor regularly or have never been before, there is always more you can learn about the profession. From the history of how chiropractic care came into existence to the modern training these practitioners undergo, below are some tidbits that might make your next trip to a College Park chiropractor more fun!
1. The Origin of Chiropractic Care
In 1895, a janitor named Harvey Lillard sought relief from a 17-year-old back injury that had damaged his hearing significantly. Daniel David Palmer performed what is now considered the first chiropractic adjustment on Lillard, helping to restore some of his hearing. This was the beginning of chiropractic care. A friend of Palmer’s coined the term chiropractic after suggesting a combination of two Grecian words: “cheir” meaning hands, and “praktos” which means done. Therefore, chiropractic literally means done by hand. While techniques have grown and changed since 1895, hands are still the main tool used in an adjustment, and that’s credited to Palmer’s work.
2. The Profession Today
Each day, over one million chiropractic adjustments take place around the world. It is estimated there are about 100,000 chiropractors practicing globally today. In the United States and Canada, chiropractors are the third-largest group of medical practitioners after doctors and dentists. It is also quickly growing, with over 10,000 chiropractic students currently enrolled in United States institutions.
3. The Education Requirements
To be a licensed chiropractor, a person must obtain a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC), which is no easy feat. They first start with a four-year undergraduate program, mostly centered on science courses, before being accepted into a chiropractic graduate program. These programs last four years, like traditional medical school, and require at least 4,200 hours of study, ranging from classroom time to lab work to clinical internships. By the time someone graduates, they have had in-depth education and practice providing patient care. There are then qualifying examinations that must be passed to become a licensed chiropractor, and a DC will have continued education and regulations throughout their time practicing.
4. The Global Presence
Chiropractic care is popular in all areas of the world. Though its origins as a practice were in the United States, spinal manipulation has been found historically for centuries in a variety of cultures. In the 1960s, chiropractic care began to gain popularity in Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa, marking some of the first spread of the official profession. More recently, it has extended to Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Australia. Worldwide, there are over 40 accredited chiropractic schools. An organization called World Spine Care aims to bring chiropractic care to developing countries and was launched as a way to fill the gap in evidence-based treatment found in these areas. By providing treatment for musculoskeletal and spinal conditions at a low cost, WSC has been able to help people around the world.
5. The Athletes
One group of people who uses chiropractic care often is professional athletes. All 32 teams in the National Football League have a chiropractor on staff, and it’s very common in the National Hockey League, National Basketball Association, and Major League Baseball as well. Not only do these chiropractors attend games to address any of their work injuries, but they are also a part of the players’ training and health goals throughout the year. Chiropractic care can improve an athlete’s performance, as well. By seeing a chiropractor regularly, these athletes are able to increase strength and flexibility, and prevent injuries from occurring during games. Chiropractors also contribute to general health and wellness for athletes.
6. The Demographics
The ratio of men to women practicing chiropractic care is currently about 4:1, but the number of women in the profession has been growing rapidly in recent years. There is now a greater number of women entering the profession and studying. There is a mistaken belief that women won’t be able to perform adjustments with the same strength a man might; however, this has been shown to be untrue. Adjustments are about precision, not pure strength, and a woman’s adjustments are mechanically equivalent to those of her male counterparts’.
7. The Benefits
Chiropractic care has been shown to lead to quicker recoveries for most injuries. This is because the goal of chiropractic care is to address the root cause of pain, helping the body to function better overall rather than just masking symptoms. A College Park chiropractor will work to understand your goals for recovery and assist your body in getting to that point through a combination of techniques.
At AICA College Park, our chiropractors work with other specialists to create holistic and customized care plans based on your needs. If you are in search of a College Park chiropractor, contact us today for your first appointment!