 According to the American Chiropractic Association, the word chiropractic comes from the Greek cheir (hand) and praktos (done)—literally, “done by hand.” But how did this hands-on approach become one of the leading non-invasive options for neck and back pain today? Below, we explore the history of chiropractic—from its ancient roots to its modern practice—and share a brief background on its founder, Daniel David Palmer. Ancient BeginningsWhile the modern profession is just over a century old, the idea of treating musculoskeletal problems with manual techniques is much older. Historical reviews describe manipulative therapies in classical Greece and across ancient Egyptian and Chinese traditions. Even Hippocrates emphasized the spine’s importance in health—an idea that echoes through today’s conservative, spine-focused care. (Read more: A History of Manipulative Therapy – National Library of Medicine.) The Start of Modern ChiropracticThe turning point came in Davenport, Iowa, in 1895. Daniel David (D.D.) Palmer performed what is widely regarded as the first chiropractic adjustment on Harvey Lillard, a building custodian. Lillard reported improvement in his hearing after Palmer’s spinal manipulation—a moment many consider the birth of modern chiropractic. Who is Daniel David Palmer?Born in 1845 in Ontario, Canada, D.D. Palmer immigrated to the United States and worked as a teacher, beekeeper, and grocer before studying healing arts. Before chiropractic, he practiced “magnetic healing,” then shifted his focus to anatomy and physiology to understand why hands-on care helped people. Palmer sought to organize manual care into a philosophy, art, and science—what we now call Chiropractic. Founding The Palmer School of ChiropracticInspired by early results and determined to teach others, Palmer established the Palmer School of Cure in 1897 (today’s Palmer College of Chiropractic) in Davenport. His son, B.J. Palmer, later expanded the school and helped shape chiropractic education and research for decades. The institution is recognized as the first chiropractic college and remains a standard bearer in chiropractic education. Many talented chiropractors have trained at Palmer—including Dr. Steve Petrak.  Above: Thompson Drop Table. Image courtesy of Chirocity. Palmer Method of ChiropracticAt Petrak Family Chiropractic, the Palmer Method blends several well-known techniques so care can be tailored to each person:
Explore more methods in our deep-dive: 7 Chiropractic Adjustment Methods Explained, and see our clinic philosophy in Our Approach. Chiropractic Care TodayKansas passed the first state law licensing chiropractors in 1913. By 1931, 39 states had legally recognized chiropractic; Louisiana would become the 50th state to license the profession in 1974. Today, chiropractors are licensed in all 50 states and in many countries worldwide.
Within the U.S. National Institutes of Health, complementary and integrative health research is coordinated by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)—originally established as NCCAM in 1998 (renamed NCCIH in 2014) and preceded by the NIH Office of Alternative Medicine in the 1990s. This center has supported research related to spinal manipulation and other non-drug therapies. Each year, chiropractors treat more than 35 million Americans, and there are ~70,000 chiropractors practicing across the United States. As the profession has evolved, spinal manipulation remains at its core—but today’s chiropractors often integrate lifestyle guidance, rehab exercises, and other conservative therapies based on a patient’s goals and comfort level. If you’re new to care, you may find this overview helpful: What to Expect at a Chiropractor Appointment. Thinking about care? We’d love to meet you. Schedule a consultation or explore our Family Chiropractic services to get started. Comments are closed.
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