A chiropractor is more than a back doctor. In fact, chiropractors focus on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. The word "chiropractic" comes from the Greek words for "hand" (cheiros) and "done by" (pracktos) -- literally, "done by the hand."
The first recorded chiropractic adjustment was performed in 1895 by Dr. Daniel David Palmer, a Canadian-born teacher and healer. Dr. Palmer discovered a "lump" on a hearing-impaired patient's back and suspected that a vertebra might be out of place. After several treatments of repositioning the vertebra with a gentle thrust, much of the patient's hearing was restored.
Although chiropractic care began over a century ago, it wasn’t accepted as a legitimate form of care until recently. Now, chiropractic is the third largest doctoral-level health care profession, after medicine and dentistry, reports the American Chiropractic Association.
Doctors of chiropractic undergo at least four years of professional study at one of 16 chiropractic colleges accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education. In addition, chiropractors must pass national board examinations and become state-licensed prior to practicing. There are more than 60,000 actively licensed chiropractors in the U.S., and all 50 states officially recognize chiropractic as a health care profession.
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