Chiropractors, also known as doctors of chiropractic or chiropractic physicians, diagnose and treat patients whose health problems are associated with the body's muscular, nervous, and skeletal systems, especially the spine. Chiropractors believe that interference with these systems impairs the body's normal functions and lowers its resistance to disease. They also hold that spinal or vertebral dysfunction alters many important body functions by affecting the nervous system and that skeletal imbalance through joint or articular dysfunction, especially in the spine, can cause pain.

Chiropractic is a healthcare system based upon the theory that disease is caused by abnormal function of the nervous system. It attempts to restore normal function by manipulation and treatment of the structures of the body, especially those of the spinal column.

The basic theory of chiropractic is that subluxations are the cause of medical problems. A subluxation is a misalignment of the spine that interferes with nerve signals from the brain. By adjusting the misalignments, chiropractors can thereby restore the nerve signals and cure health problems. This theory was first suggested in 1895 by D.D. Palmer, a healer from Davenport, Iowa. Scientific evidence supports the theory, as well as a growing body of testimonials from chiropractic patients. That chiropractic can help those with chronic back and neck pain and headaches is well accepted. Other health conditions have also been shown to improve from adjustments; as the nerve system improves the body can function better.

The chiropractic approach to health care is holistic, stressing the patient’s overall health and wellness. It recognizes that many factors affect health, including exercise, diet, rest, environment, and heredity. Chiropractors provide natural, drugless, nonsurgical health treatments and rely on the body’s inherent recuperative abilities. Chiropractors also recommend changes in lifestyle — in eating, exercise, and sleeping habits, for example — to their patients. When appropriate, chiropractors consult with and refer patients to other health practitioners. Because chiropractors emphasize the importance of healthy lifestyles and do not prescribe drugs or perform surgery, chiropractic care is appealing to many health-conscious Americans.

What does a chiropractor do?