This is a historical and critical overview of chiropractic’s development in the United States. It examines where the profession came from, the internal debates that shaped it, and the role it has played in patients’ care over the past century.
What was studied?
The paper traces chiropractic to D.D. Palmer's first spinal adjustment in 1895, describing the traditions that shaped the profession and the long-running divide between straights, who follow a specific theory of subluxation, and mixers, who blend broader approaches.
What did they find?
At the time of writing, the strongest trial evidence was for acute low back pain, with more limited evidence for neck pain and headache. Serious complications from neck manipulation, while rare, do occur, and part of chiropractic's value may lie in the therapeutic relationship itself.
Why it matters
This is useful context rather than current clinical evidence, since it is over 25 years old and the field has moved on. Its value is historical, explaining where ongoing debate and terminology come from.
Why we included it
It illustrates a principle that still holds today: part of what makes care feel effective is the quality of the relationship itself, being properly listened to, alongside the physical treatment.
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What was studied?
The paper traces chiropractic to D.D. Palmer's first spinal adjustment in 1895, describing the traditions that shaped the profession and the long-running divide between straights, who follow a specific theory of subluxation, and mixers, who blend broader approaches.
What did they find?
At the time of writing, the strongest trial evidence was for acute low back pain, with more limited evidence for neck pain and headache. Serious complications from neck manipulation, while rare, do occur, and part of chiropractic's value may lie in the therapeutic relationship itself.
Why it matters
This is useful context rather than current clinical evidence, since it is over 25 years old and the field has moved on. Its value is historical, explaining where ongoing debate and terminology come from.
Why we included it
It illustrates a principle that still holds today: part of what makes care feel effective is the quality of the relationship itself, being properly listened to, alongside the physical treatment.