Chiropractic in the 21st Century

Dr. Michael Budincich, D.C.

For 110 years, the chiropractic profession has been providing a natural way for people to optimize their health. Sick and injured people have regained their health and others have improved their health to feel even better. The chiropractic profession has now spread throughout the entire world with many countries now utilizing -chiropractic care in their health care delivery systems.

There is evidence that in ancient civilizations something similar to chiropractic was practiced as a way to heal the sick, but these practices had been largely forgotten until D.D. Palmer discovered modem chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. In September of 1895, the first chiropractic adjustment was performed on Palmer's deaf janitor, Harvey Lillard. As he witnessed Lillard's hearing return, Palmer thought at first that he had found a cure for deafness. But as patients with the flu, sciatica, stomach ailments, menstrual problems, migraine headaches, and a host of other ailments responded to his new "hands-on-treatments," Palmer came to realize that he had discovered something much more far-reaching.

Chiropractic is the largest drugless, non-medical health care profession in the world. It is one of the most praised, yet misunderstood, of all health care disciplines in spite of the fact that it is practiced by over 50,000 doctors in the United States, 60,000 around the world, and that over 25 million Americans consult with chiropractors every year.

Chiropractors undergo a rigorous curriculum prior to licensure. Undergraduate requirements to enter Chiropractic College are similar to entrance to medical school. Chiropractic college education is four to five years and requires passing four national board examinations and a state board examination.

Chiropractic is reimbursable through the Workers' Compensation system, personal injury, managed care, Medicare, and private insurance, but most patients in chiropractic offices are able to afford the care on a pay-as-you-go basis to restore or elevate their health.

Research has validated what the patients of doctors of chiropractic have always known - it works! Outcome assessments evaluating the effectiveness and patient satisfaction with their care has been consistently high. Safety factors have shown chiropractic care to be one of the safest procedures when compared to other standard medical treatments; statistically it is safer than taking aspirin.

A New Model of Health
The chiropractic profession is constantly striving to improve the quality of the care it delivers through continued research and higher educational standards.

A new model of health is emerging focusing on wellness and prevention strategies incorporating advice on exercise, nutrition, postural education, rest, attitude, and a properly aligned and a fully functioning spine and nervous system. The chiropractic profession has always been focused on the preservation and optimization of health. Their education and training allows these doctors to achieve their goals by interacting with individual patients one-on-one.

Get the full-text in pdf.

"The office is also very family friendly... and great with kids..." - Tabitha E