The roots of chiropractic care can be traced back to the beginning of recorded time.

Writings from China and Greece written in 2700 B.C. and 1500 B.C. mention spinal manipulation and the maneuvering of the lower extremities to ease low back pain. Hippocrates, the Greek physician who lived from 460 to 357 B.C., also published texts detailing the importance of chiropractic care. In one of his writings he declares, “Get knowledge of the spine, for this is the requisite for many diseases.”

In the United States, the practice of spinal manipulation began gaining momentum in the late nineteenth century. In 1895, Daniel David Palmer founded the Chiropractic profession in Davenport, Iowa, after treating his janitor who had been deaf for 17 years. The janitor reported that after “exerting himself in a cramped, stooping position, he felt something give way in his back and immediately became deaf.” As a consummate student of anatomy and physiology, this piqued Palmer’s interest. He examined the janitor and discovered that a vertebra was racked from its normal position. According to his autobiography, Palmer was certain that this misalignment had caused the hearing loss, and that “if the vertebra was replaced, the man’s hearing should be restored.” Palmer persuaded the janitor to lie flat on his stomach, and applied firm pressure to the spine with his hands. The vertebra immediately moved back into place, and the janitor’s hearing “miraculously” returned as before.

Building on his groundbreaking scientific discovery, Daniel David Palmer founded the Palmer School of Chiropractic in 1897, which has continued to be one of the most prominent chiropractic colleges in the nation.

Throughout the twentieth century, Doctors of Chiropractic gained legal recognition in all fifty states. A continuing recognition and respect for the chiropractic profession in the United States has led to growing support for chiropractic care all over the world. Numerous research studies and reports have yielded incredibly influential results which have changed, shaped and molded perceptions of chiropractic care.

Today, Doctors of Chiropractic are pioneers in the field of non-invasive care, promoting science-based approaches to a variety of ailments, and helping hundreds of thousands of patients lead healthier, more productive lives.