The first recorded chiropractic adjustment was performed on September 18, 1895, by Dr. Daniel David Palmer, a Canadian-born teacher and healer. Dr. Palmer was, at the time, studying the causes and effects of disease. His patient was Harvey Lillard, a janitor working in the same building as Dr. Palmer in Davenport, Iowa. Mr. Lillard, who had complained of hearing problems for over 17 years, allowed Dr. Palmer to examine his spine. Dr. Palmer discovered a lump on Mr. Lillard’s back and suspected that a vertebra might be out of place, which he then re-positioned by a gentle thrust. After several such treatments, Mr. Lillard’s hearing was restored.
Since Dr. Palmer’s first chiropractic adjustment, the art and science of chiropractic have progressed significantly. Today, advanced diagnostic procedures, sophisticated equipment, scientific research, and the growing acceptance among other health care professionals makes chiropractic a popular health care choice.
We’re proud to be the premier chiropractors in St. Augustine advancing the field. And, proud of our St. Augustine clinic’s team in supporting patients reach a new state of wellness.
The chiropractic perspective on health and disease emphasizes two fundamental concepts:
1) the structure and condition of the body influences how the body functions and its ability to heal itself;
2) the mind-body relationship is instrumental in maintaining health and in the healing processes.
Although chiropractic shares much with other health professions, its emphasis and application of philosophy distinguishes it from modern medicine. Chiropractic philosophy gravitates toward a holistic (“total person”) approach to healing which combines elements of the mind, body and spirit. It maintains that health depends on obedience to natural laws, and that deviation from such laws can result in illness.
Increasing interest in alternative forms of care has caught the attention of several health associations and government agencies. A 1993 study in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that “The estimated number of visits made in 1990 to providers of unconventional therapy was greater than the number of visits to all primary medical providers nationwide,” and chiropractic was among the most frequently used non-medical therapy.
A followup report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1998 found that the use of non-medical treatments had increased significantly since the 1990 survey, with “overall prevalence of use increased by 25%, total visits by an estimated 47%, and expenditures on services provided by practitioners of alternative therapies by an estimated 45%.” Of the survey respondents, one in nine (11%) had used chiropractic care within the previous year.
We are proud to be among the leading pain management doctors in St. Augustine, FL.