- "Chiropractic is a form of alternative medicine concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, especially of the spine."
A complementary therapy that focuses on manipulating the body’s musculoskeletal system to restore balance and relieve pain.
Anatomy and Physiology: The study of the structures and functions of the human body.
Biomechanics: The study of movements of living organisms and the forces involved in those movements.
Pathology: The study of the causes and effects of diseases and injuries.
Kinesiology: The study of human movement and physical activity.
Neurology: The study of the nervous system and its functions.
Radiology: The use of imaging techniques to diagnose and treat diseases and injuries.
Orthopedics: The branch of medicine concerned with the prevention or correction of injuries or disorders of the skeletal system and associated muscles, joints, and ligaments.
Pharmacology: The study of drugs and their effects on the body.
Nutrition: The study of food and its effects on the body.
- "It has esoteric origins and is based on several pseudoscientific ideas."
- "Many chiropractors... have proposed that mechanical disorders of the joints, especially of the spine, affect general health, and that regular manipulation of the spine improves general health."
- "The main chiropractic treatment technique involves manual therapy, especially manipulation of the spine, other joints, and soft tissues, but may also include exercises and health and lifestyle counseling."
- "A chiropractor may have a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree and be referred to as 'doctor' but is not a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)."
- "Systematic reviews of controlled clinical studies of treatments used by chiropractors have found no evidence that chiropractic manipulation is effective, with the possible exception of treatment for back pain."
- "Spinal manipulation may be cost-effective for sub-acute or chronic low back pain, but the results for acute low back pain were insufficient."
- "No compelling evidence exists to indicate that maintenance chiropractic care adequately prevents symptoms or diseases."
- "There is controversy regarding the degree of risk of vertebral artery dissection, which can lead to stroke and death, from cervical manipulation."
- "Chiropractic is well established in the United States, Canada, and Australia."
- "Most who seek chiropractic care do so for low back pain."
- "Back and neck pain are considered the specialties of chiropractic, but many chiropractors treat ailments other than musculoskeletal issues."
- "Chiropractic has two main groups: 'straights'... and 'mixers'."
- "'Straights', now the minority, emphasize vitalism, 'Innate Intelligence', and consider vertebral subluxations to be the cause of all disease; and 'mixers', the majority, are more open to mainstream views and conventional medical techniques."
- "D. D. Palmer founded chiropractic in the 1890s."
- "Throughout its history, chiropractic has been controversial. Its foundation is at odds with evidence-based medicine, and has been sustained by pseudoscientific ideas such as vertebral subluxation and Innate Intelligence."
- "Among chiropractors, there are significant disagreements over the subject, which has led to negative impacts on both public vaccination and mainstream acceptance of chiropractic."
- "The American Medical Association called chiropractic an 'unscientific cult' in 1966 and boycotted it until losing an antitrust case in 1987."
- "Chiropractic gained more legitimacy and greater acceptance among conventional physicians and health plans in the United States."
- "During the COVID-19 pandemic, chiropractic professional associations advised chiropractors to adhere to CDC, WHO, and local health department guidance."