Some patients may be hesitant to seek chiropractic care. Knowing more about a treatment or the process of something can put our minds at ease. Elevate Wellness wants to share more about our practice and the history of the industry and how chiropractic treatment and alignment, came to be.
The word “Chiropractic” is derived from the Greek words cheir which means ‘hand’ and praktos, meaning ‘done.’ Put together meaning done by hand. Alignment and adjustment have been traced back to the Greek physician, Hippocrates. In the 16th-19th century, spinal manipulation was commonly associated with “bone setters’ who learned the craft passed down from family generations. These bone setters also treated joints that were out of place, called subluxations.
In 1895, Canadian doctor Daniel David Palmer started work to bring more spine care into the open. He learned more about alignment and helping with pain in the lower back and spine. Palmer became the “founder” when he “adjusted” the spine of a deaf janitor and claimed to restore his hearing.
Fight For Acceptance
Palmer went on to found the Palmer School of Chiropractic, where he taught his methods to the first eager students and showed them the practice. Statutes to practice chiropractic care as a profession were not set until much later. It was common for those who practiced alignment to be jailed or fined for practicing without a license before the 1960s.
The conflict between chiropractors and organized medicine took time to resolve. Chiropractors were often charged with violating the medical practice act and were not seen as real doctors. At the peak of the struggle, around 450 chiropractors were sent to jail in a single year.
While there are fewer legal actions taken against chiropractors today, many interested patients have mixed feelings about whether or not the treatment will work for them. Many patients are satisfied with the care they receive but a study in 1973 in Utah found that patients see this as part of their overall healthcare.
Chiropractic and alignment care have transitioned from being seen as “alternative medicine” to a more mainstream form of physical healthcare throughout history. More people visit a chiropractor today and consider it a viable option for their condition.
Why Work With Us?
Dr. Simmonds is our licensed and trained chiropractor who has received training and knowledge from other doctors and education. We work to provide our patients with a comfortable experience and teach them about what chiropractic alignment can do for their whole body.
If you are interested, we can tell you more about our history, and how we got to where we are with our practice today. Chiropractic care was seen as alternative medicine because it is a non-invasive and natural treatment. This helps patients to avoid surgery, taking painkillers or other medications for their symptoms.
The goal of chiropractic care, as well as what we strive for, is to get your body to heal in the most natural way possible. Dr. Simmonds practices the latest techniques and helps remove nerve interferences due to misalignments in the body. Proper chiropractic care can help to relieve stress, improve pain symptoms, help the body heal from injury and help you have more energy.
Symptoms do not even have to be present for you to get the most out of our treatment. We work with each patient to develop a custom plan for what they want to accomplish. Proper chiropractic treatment helps maintain proper spine health, increase the function of the nervous system and helps you have a stronger immune system. Chiropractic treatment helps you to feel better in more than just one area of your life.
If you have been hesitant about chiropractic treatment, feel free to visit our office in Bountiful, UT, and speak with Dr. Simmonds about any questions you have. Learning more about treatment will help to calm your nerves and finding an office that you are comfortable with can be a big step. Contact us today!