What is chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a primary health-care profession that specialises in the diagnosis, treatment and overall management of conditions that are due to mechanical dysfunction of the joints, particularly those of the spine, and their effects on the nervous system. Chiropractors treat problems with joints, bones and muscles, and the effects they have on the nervous system. Working on all the joints of the body, concentrating particularly on the spine, they use their hands to make often gentle, specific adjustments (the chiropractic word for manipulation) to improve the efficiency of the nervous system and release the body's natural healing ability.

Chiropractic does not involve the use of any drugs or surgery.

History of chiropractic

Written records from the ancient Greek and Chinese civilizations, dating back several thousand years, refer to spinal adjustments. The inception of modern chiropractic can be traced back to 1875 when Canadian Daniel David Palmer performed the first chiropractic adjustment and went on to found The Palmer School of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa in 1897.

The 20th century saw the growth and development of the profession worldwide, gaining recognition and respect for the place it has taken in the primary care environment. Influential research has underpinned the development of the profession and has come both from both within and outside of the chiropractic research communities.

Chiropractic is unique in that the profession is organised internationally and there are internationally set standards for education.

Regulated Profession

In common with medical practitioners and dentists, all chiropractors are registered by law under the Chiropractors Act 1994 and the title 'Chiropractor' is protected under this legislation. The profession is statutorily regulated through the General Chiropractic Council (GCC) and it is illegal to practise as a chiropractor without being registered with the GCC. All British Chiropractic Association members are registered with the GCC.