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Writer's pictureDr. Rory Dopps

The History of Chiropractic Care

Updated: May 8, 2023


A modern chiropractic clinic showcasing the evolution and growth of chiropractic care over time, emphasizing its enduring commitment to promoting health and well-being for individuals of all ages.
A historical photo of D.D. Palmer, the founder of chiropractic care, highlighting the origins and early development of this natural healing practice.

History Chiropractic Care


Chiropractic care is a natural, drug-free approach to health and wellness that has been around for over 120 years. The history of chiropractic dates back to 1895, when a Canadian doctor named Daniel David Palmer performed the first chiropractic adjustment on a patient named Harvey Lillard.


Lillard, who was deaf in one ear, had reported to Palmer that he had lost his hearing after experiencing a sudden popping sensation in his back. Palmer, who was a magnetic healer and naturopath, believed that the popping sensation was caused by a misalignment of the vertebrae in Lillard's spine, and that this misalignment was interfering with the nerves that innervated the ear.


He performed a spinal adjustment on Lillard, manually manipulating the vertebrae to realign them and restore proper spinal function. To Palmer's surprise, Lillard's hearing was restored almost immediately after the adjustment. This incident sparked Palmer's interest in the connection between the spine and the nervous system, and he began to develop and refine his theories on chiropractic care.


Over the next several years, Palmer continued to treat patients using his chiropractic techniques, and he also began to teach others about his ideas and theories. He established the Palmer School of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, which is now known as the Palmer College of Chiropractic, and he published several books and articles on the principles and practice of chiropractic care.


Today, chiropractic is a well-established and widely recognized profession, with over 60,000 licensed practitioners in the United States alone. Chiropractic care is used by millions of people around the world to address a wide range of musculoskeletal and nervous system disorders, and is recognized by many health organizations as a safe and effective form of treatment.


At Dopps Chiropractic, we are dedicated to providing high-quality chiropractic care that is personalized and individualized to meet the unique needs of each of our patients. We believe in the principles of chiropractic, and we strive to help our patients achieve optimal spinal health and overall well-being.

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