Though doctors in other countries may use
chelation therapy before turning to surgical inter-
ventions to treat CAD, most conventional physi-
cians in the United States feel the risks outweigh
the benefits when it comes to chelation therapy as
a treatment for atherosclerotic heart disease.
See also CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS GRAFT; HEAVY
METAL POISONING; KIDNEY; LIFESTYLE AND CARDIOVASCU-
LAR HEALTH; LIFESTYLE AND HEALTH.
Chinese herbal remedies See TRADITIONAL CHI-
NESE MEDICINE(TCM).
chiropractic A system of health care that
emphasizes manipulation of the spine and back to
align the musculoskeletal system for optimal func-
tion and support of the rest of the body. Chiro-
practic originated in the United States with the
work of Daniel David Palmer in the late 1890s.
Palmer had a keen interest in magnetic HEALING
and in what he perceived to be the body’s natural
tendency to keep itself in balance and thus in
health. From his observations he began head and
neck manipulations.
Chiropractic Diagnosis and TreatmentChiropractic views the body as a system of bal-
ance, physical as well as emotional. When the
spine is out of alignment, the rest of the body
attempts to rebalance itself. When it cannot, one
result is PAIN. Injuries and chronic health condi-
tions may pull the spine out of alignment as well.
The leading reason people seek chiropractic care is
for treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and pain,
particularly lower back pain. Chiropractic often is
an effective approach for treating repetitious
motion injuries as well as for teaching methods to
avoid further injury. Chiropractic may incorporate
ACUPUNCTURE, MASSAGE THERAPY, NUTRITIONAL
THERAPY, or CRANIOSACRAL MASSAGEin addition to
chiropractic manipulations.
The chiropractor begins an examination by ask-
ing questions about why the person has come for
care and may take X-rays as well as look at the
back. Observing posture and movement help the
chiropractor assess overall musculoskeletal health,
and the chiropractor will palpate the neck and
spine. Most chiropractors also ask about diet and
nutrition, physical activity and exercise, and occu-
pation and recreational interests. The chiropractor
should then explain his or her findings and the
treatment options to correct them.
Chiropractic manipulations should not cause
pain. Often the back makes popping sounds as the
chiropractor uses pressure to correct subluxations
(out of position vertebrae). Some chiropractors
use devices, whereas others use only their hands.
Most people feel relaxed after a chiropractic treat-
ment. Chiropractic manipulation may correct one
set of problems, which then reveals other prob-
lems. Some conditions require only a few visits
and treatments, though others may require up to
10 visits over several weeks or occasionally more
extensive therapy. No chiropractic therapy should
continue indefinitely, though many people need
to return periodically.
Chiropractic manipulation can restore the
spine’s correct alignment, but circumstances such
as structural asymmetries, longstanding injury,
and postural or function-oriented habits that
remain unchanged may cause the spine to eventu-
ally return to misalignments. Many people have
one leg slightly different length from the other, for
example, or may sit at a computer all day leaning
forward with shoulders hunched. These chronic
sorts of circumstances account for about a third of
chiropractic visits.Chiropractic Practitioners
Over the decades since Palmer introduced his
methods for manipulating the neck, chiropractic
has evolved into a comprehensive and structured
health-care discipline. Doctors of chiropractic (DCs)
attend eight or more years of college and chiroprac-
tic medical school, completing extensive education
and training in a broad spectrum of health-care
areas. Many chiropractors have further training,
certification, or licensure in acupuncture, nutri-
tion, and specialized care such as sports injuries. All
states in the United States require chiropractors to
pass a national proficiency examination and meet
the state’s licensing requirements.Benefits and Risks of Chiropractic
At one time in its evolution, chiropractic involved
approaches and methods, arising from inconsis-
tencies in practice and education, that sometimes
did harm to people. Standardizations in philoso-chiropractic 63