Most people aren’t aware that the chiropractic profession has a very colorful 120-year-old history. In fact, many insist that “chiropractors” were performing spinal adjustments several hundred or thousand years ago. Granted, bone setting has been in recorded history for millennium, but what chiropractors do is a little different.
Did you know that the first chiropractic adjustment was given by a magnetic healer and performed on a half-deaf patient? Harvey Lillard came to D.D. Palmer with some health concerns and Palmer discovered that Lillard had lost hearing in one ear after being knocked on the side of the head in an accident. After evaluating the area in Lillard’s upper neck, Palmer discovered what chiropractors call a “vertebral subluxation” in his neck and popped the bone back in place. To both of their surprise, Lillard’s hearing immediately recovered and the chiropractic profession was born.
Subluxation
Lillard’s story is important because it lays the foundation of what the chiropractic profession is and what it is not. At its core, chiropractic is the detection and removal of vertebral subluxation. Defined by the Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC), a subluxation is “a complex of functional, structural, and/or pathological articular changes that compromise neural integrity and may influence organ system function and general health.” In other words, because the spine is the protective mechanism for most nerves that run throughout your body, if vertebrae are not lined up perfectly then the nervous system – and, subsequently, those cells and tissues affected by those nerves – will not function properly.
What that looks like for each individual is relative to their specific situation. Some may experience back pain, whereas others will suffer from high blood pressure. The various presentations are limitless. Once the subluxation is removed (or corrected), however, the vertebra resumes proper positioning in the spine and nerve function is restored and healing starts to occur throughout the body. The concept is similar to cutting your finger with a knife and immediately your body begins to repair and restore full function in that area. Correcting a subluxation, however, has infinitely more impact on your overall health because every cell in your body is supplied by nerves that ultimately pass through your spine.
The Far-Reaching Effects of Vertebral Subluxation
According to peer-reviewed literature, subluxation-based chiropractic care may be related to correcting a plethora of diseases. Notably, chiropractic care has been linked to reducing someone’s risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Specifically, removing vertebral subluxations has been proven to reduce inflammation, elevated stress, and a slew of other known factors linked to CVD such as the following:
- Blood pressure/anxiety
- Enhanced immune response(s)
- Heart Rate Variability
- Dysrhythmic abnormalities
- Duodenal Ulcers
- Muscle tension
- Overall increased bodily function (objectively and subjectively observed)
- Neurocognitive function
- Dysmenorrhea
- Pulmonary function
- Decreased labor times for primigravidae and multiparous pregnancies
Various mechanisms have been suggested and further research is needed to substantiate these findings as they are comparably few in light of the tome of medical articles in the literature. Nevertheless, we see an indelible and undeniable link exists between chiropractic’s proven efficacy in treating inflammation and stress and decreasing risk of CVD.
If you suffer from any of the conditions above, consider going to a subluxtion-based chiropractor. By working with your primary care physician, the chiropractor will be able to help you live the healthiest life possible.
Sources for this article include:
- World Chiropractic Alliance. Association of chiropractic colleges position paper no.1 – experts [online]. [cited Sept 2012]. Available at: http://www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/acc/acc.htm. Roy RA, Boucher JP, Comtois AS. Inflammatory response following a short-term course of chiropractic treatment in subjects with and without chronic low back pain. J Chiropr Med 2010; 9(3):107-14.
- Teodorczyk-Injeyan JA, Injeyan HS, Ruegg R. Spinal manipulative therapy reduces inflammatory cytokines but not substance P production in normal subjects. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2006; 29(1):14-21.
- Mahanidis T, Russell D. Improvement in quality of life in a patient with depression undergoing chiropractic care using torque release technique: A case study [case report]. J Vert Sublux Res 2010; (31):n.p.
- McAllister W, Boone WR. Changes in physical state and self-perceptions in domains of health related quality of life among public safety personnel undergoing chiropractic care. J Vert Sublux Res 2007; (6):7 p.
- Pauli Y. Quality of life improvements and spontaneous lifestyle changes in a patient undergoing subluxation-centered chiropractic care: a case study [case report]. J Vert Sublux Res. 2006; (11):15 p.
- Blanks RHI, Schuster TL, Dobson M. A retrospective assessment of network care using a survey of self-rated health, wellness and quality of life. J Vert Sublux Res 1997; 1(3):p.1.
- Tuchin PJ. The effect of chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy on salivary cortisol levels. Australas Chiropr Osteopathy 1998; 7(2) 86-92.
- Whelan TL, Dishman JD, Burke J, Levine S, Sciotti V. The effect of chiropractic manipulation on salivary cortisol levels. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2002; 25(3):149-53.
- Christian GF, Stanton GJ, Sissons D, How HY, Jamison J, Alder B, Fullerton M, Funder JW. Immunoreactive ACTH, beta-endorphin, and cortisol levels in plasma following spinal manipulative therapy. Spine 1988; 13(12):1411-7.
- Welch A, Boone R. Sympathetic and parasympathetic responses to specific diversified adjustments to chiropractic vertebral subluxations of the cervical and thoracic spine Chiropr Med 2008; 7(3):86-93
- Yates RG, Lamping DL, Abram NL, Wright C. Effects of chiropractic treatment on blood pressure and anxiety: a randomized, controlled trial. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1988; 11(6): 484-488.
- Brennan PC, Kokjohn K, Kaltinger CJ, Lohr GE, Glendening C, Hondras,MA, McGregor M, Triano JJ. Enhanced phagocytic cell respiratory burst induced by spinal manipulation: potential role of substance p. JManipulative Physiol Ther 1991; 14(7): 399-407.
- Brennan PC, Triano JJ, McGregor M, Kokjohn K, Hondras MA, Brennan DC. Enhanced neutrophil respiratory burst as a biological marker for manipulation forces: duration of the effect and association with substance p and tumor necrosis factor. Manipulative Physiol Ther 1992; 15(2): 83-90.
- Allen JM. The effects of chiropractic on the immune system: a review of literature. Chiropractic Journal of Australia 1993; 23: 132-135.
- Lohr, GE, O’Brien, JC, Nodine, DL, Brennan, PC. Natural killer cells as an outcome measure of chiropractic treatment efficacy. International Conference on Spinal anipulation; Arlington, VA April 12-13, 1991 pp.019-112.
- Brennan, PC, Kokjohn, K, Triano, JJ, Fritz, TE, Wardrip, CL, Hondras, MA. Immunologic correlates of reduced spinal mobility: preliminary observations in a dog model. Proceedings of… 19XX Location Date pp. 118-121.
- Vora GS, Bates HA. The effects of spinal manipulation on the immune system (a preliminary report).The ACA Journal of Chiropractic 1980; 14: S103-105.
- Selano JL, Hightower BC, Pfleger B, Collins KF, Grostic JD. The effects of specific upper cervical adjustments on the cd4 counts of hiv positive patients. CRJ 1994; 3(1): 32-39.
- Vernon HT, Dhami MSI, Howley TP, Annett R. Spinal manipulation and beta-endorphins: a controlled study of the effect of a spinal manipulation of plasma beta-endorphin levels in normal males. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1986; 9(2): 115-122.
- Zhang J. The effects of chiropractic care on short-term power spectrum analysis of heart rate variability: abstract from the sixth annual national subluxation conference. J Vertebral Subluxation Res. 1998; 2(4).
- Jarmel M, Zatkin J. Improvement of cardiac autonomic regulation following spinal manipulative therapy. Conference Proceedings of the Chiropractic Centennial Foundation July 6-8, 1995: pp. 359-360.
- Lott GS, Sauer AD, Wahl DR, Kessinger J. ECG improvements following the treatment combination of chiropractic adjustments, diet, and exercise therapy. Chiropractic: The Journal of Chiropractic Research and Clinical Investigation 1990; 6(2): 37-39.
- Pikalov AA, Kharin VV. Use of spinal manipulative therapy in the treatment of duodenal ulcer: a pilot study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1994; 17(5): 310-313.
- Goff PJ, McConnell E, Paone P. The effect of chiropractic adjustment on frontalis emg potentials, spinal ranges of motion and anxiety level.Chiropractic: The Journal of Chiropractic Research and Clinical Inverstigation 1991; 7(1): 4-9.
- Lauro A, Mouch B. Chiropractic effects on athletic ability. Chiropractic: The Journal of Chiropractic Research and Clinical Investigation 1991; 6(4): 84-87.
- Kessinger R, Boneva D. Neurocognitive function and the upper cervical spine. CRJ 1999; 6(2): 88-89.
- Kokjohn K, Schmid DM, Triano JJ, Brennan PC. The effect of spinal manipulation on pain and prostaglandin levels in women with primary dysmenorrhea. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1992; 15(5): 279-285.
- Menon M, Plaugher G, Jansen R, Dhami MSI, Sutowski J. Effect of thoracic spinal adjustment on peripheral airway function in normal subjects – a pilot study. Conference Proceedings of the Chiropractic Centennial Foundation 1995; July 6-8: 244-245.
- Fallon J. The effect of chiropractic treatment on pregnancy and labor: a comprehensive study. Proceedings of the World Federation of Chiropractic 1991: pp. 24-31.
