Chiropractic Medicine Flashcards
Chiropractic is derived from where and cheir means what? Praxis means what?
What is chiropractic medicine?
What is the primary treatment method?
What is the goal?
The term “chiropractic”, derived from Greek roots
cheir (hand) and by hand”.
praxis (practice) to mean treatment “done
• It is the art and science of diagnosis and treatment of somatic dysfunction resulting from improper neural function using a conservative, non-surgical, non-pharmaceutical approach.
• The primary treatment method is via use of manual manipulation (the “adjustment”) of the affected joint(s) of the spine and/or extremities.
• The goal is restoration of proper neural transmission and restoration of normal joint alignment, function, and motion.
Who founded chiropractic medicine?
When?
Who coined the term chiropractic?
Who helped expand it and in which century?
Who was the first chiropractic patient?
This practice faced a lot of opposition from which association
- Daniel David Palmer founded chiropractic in the 1890s after saying he received a vision from “another world“.
- The term “chiropractic” originated with D.D. Palmer and was coined by a patient, the Reverend Samuel H. Weed.
- His son Bartlett Joshua Palmer helped to expand it in the early 20th century.
- Throughout its history, chiropractic has been a very controversial health system.
- The first chiropractic patient was Mr. Harvey Lillard, the Deaf Janitor.
- The practice faced a lot of opposition from the American Medical Association in the U.S where it began.
What is the philosophy of chiropractic medicine or what is it based on ?
What is central to chiropractic care?
Where do chiropractic medicines origins lie?
The practice has evolved into two main groups name them
Philosophy
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• Chiropractic is based on the notion that the relationship between the body’s structure (primarily that of the spine) and its function (as coordinated by the nervous system) affects health.
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Hands on therapy—especially adjustment of the spine—is central to chiropractic care.
• Chiropractic’s origins lie in the folk medicine of bone
setting, and as it evolved it incorporated spiritual inspiration and critical rationalism,
conservatism, humanism and ethics
• The practice has evolved in two main groups, the straight and the mixers.
The Early philosophy of chiropractic medicine was based on what?
What is the straight philosophy?
What are mixers and most practitioners mixers or straight?
The Straight vrs The Mixers
Early philosophy of chiropractic medicine
• Based on deduction from irrefutable doctrine, which helped distinguish chiropractic from medicine.
• Had legal and political defences against claims of practicing medicine without a license, and allowed chiropractors to establish themselves as an autonomous profession.
• This “straight” philosophy, taught to generations of chiropractors, rejects the inferential reasoning of the scientific method. It relies on deductions from vitalistic first principles rather than the materialism of science
• Most practitioners are “mixers” who attempt to combine the materialistic
reductionism of science with the metaphysics of their predecessors and the holistic paradigm of wellness
What is Subluxation
Orthopaedic subluxation is very different from the Chiropractic subluxation. True or false
Subluxations may not be visible on radiographs. True or false
Subluxation is Core to Chiropractic Medicine
• A subluxation is a complex of functional and/or structural and/or pathological articular change that compromises neural integrity and may influence organ system function and general health.
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• Chiropractic subluxation is typically not just a shift in the articular bones of the spine.
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What are the important structures in chiropractic medicine
Where does the spinal cord pass through?
The nerves come out of the spinal cord through what?
What is a nerve’s myotome?
Important Structures in Chiropractic Medicine
• Thenerves
• Thebones
• Themuscles
• Spinalcord
• The spinal cord passes through openings in the vertebrae called vertebrae foramen.
• The nerves come out of the spinal cord through openings in the vertebrae to supply
the muscles.
• The ‘muscle block’ that one particular spinal nerve supplies is that nerve’s myotome.
What is the Vitalist’s Interpretation of Subluxation
The The kinesiologic aberrations of spinal articulations lead to changes in what tissues?
What is the proof of the existence of a subluxation?
The Vitalist’s Interpretation of Subluxation
• Vitalists believe that subluxations lead to misalignment of the vertebrae and an obstructed nerve flow by pinching spinal nerves.
• The kinesiologic aberrations of spinal articulations lead to changes in nerve, muscle, connective, and vascular tissues.
• The nerves therefore transmit uncoordinated signals to various organs of the body.
• Such subluxations may not be detectable by any of the current technological methods.
• The proof of the existence of a subluxation is described as being reflected in reversal of a variety of physiological phenomena.
What is the logic behind subluxation
In vertebral subluxations, hard bone presses on soft nerve, blood-vessels, and lymphatics.
• The lumen of the intervertebral foramen is encroached upon by the displaced portions, and its opening is narrowed.
• The contents of the lumen are compressed or displaced.
• Muscle tension is increased to compensate for subluxations.
What causes subluxations
External invasive forces that are strong enough to overcome the internal resistance of the body’s muscles, ligaments and vertebrae will misalign or subluxate the entire spine.
• Physical Causes:
• Trauma-based
• Chemical Causes:
• Smoking, alcohol, caffeine, processed foods, pollution, food hypersensitivities/allergies, etc. can irritate the nerve system causing abnormal functioning of the muscle fibres, upsetting muscle tone.
• Emotional Causes:
• Stress, Anger, Fear, Worry and Anxiety also result in muscle spasms and subluxation
How are subluxations corrected
Spontaneous correction: Automatic correction of subluxations (Majority of the subluxations which are sustained during the day are corrected during sleep).
• Adjustments: A specific directional thrust that sets a vertebra into motion with the intent to improve or correct vertebral malposition OR to improve its
• •
juxtaposition segmentally in relationship to its articular mates thus reducing or correcting the neuroforaminal/ neural canal encroachment factors inherent in the chiropractic vertebral subluxation complex.
How is it done? The adjustment is characterized by a specific thrust applied to the vertebra utilizing parts of the vertebra and contiguous structures as levers to directionally correct articular malposition.
Chiropractors Adjust, they do not Manipulate.
What are the six practice stages during consultation in chiropractic medicine
Begin a first consultation by discussing the patient’s symptoms, medical history, lifestyle & occupation, posture, emotional state, and family history;
- Examine using standard neurological and orthopaedic tests; test the joints while in motion;
- Focus on the joints of the spine and the nervous system;
- Perform a physical examination, with patient sitting, standing, walking, carrying out other movements;
- Vertebral Palpation, Nerve Tracings and Radiology;
- Adjustments are then performed.
Name five other therapeutic models
Electrical Muscle Stimulation • Intersegmental Traction
• Diathermy
• Cryotherapy
• Massage
• Trigger point therapy/ Myofascial Release • Ultrasound
• Active therapy (Treadmill, Swiss Balls, etc.)
Chiropractic Medicine
What are the potential risk of chiropractic medicine
The most serious potential risks of chiropractic is spinal cord injury or stroke after manipulation of the neck.
• Vertebrobasilar artery stroke (VAS) is statistically associated with chiropractic services in persons under 45 years of age.
• Vertebral Artery Dissection • Carotid Artery Dissection
When should chiropractic medicine be avoided
There are certain situations where manipulation can be dangerous and should be done with maximum care/never done. These include: • Pregnant woman • People with osteoarthritis of the neck • Osteoporosis of the spine • Rheumatoid Arthritis • Any form of Joint Weakness
What is the critique of chiropractic medicine
Subluxations are not just subluxations’.
• Straight chiropractors still rely on the philosophy of vitalism/innate intelligence.
• Lack of scientific evidence to support its use in numerous conditions.
• Considered as being an eclectic practice.
• Anti-Science
