Two Types of Treatment

Chiropractic, a method of restoring wellness particularly through the adjustment of the spine, was founded in 1895 by Iowa merchant Daniel David Palmer.

“The first adjustment was given to a janitor named Harvey Lillard, who had been deaf for over 17 years. The adjustment restored his hearing,” says Dr. Terry A. Rondberg, publisher of the Chiropractic Journal and president of the World Chiropractic Alliance, which represents all types of chiropractors.

Today, there are two major types of chiropractic practiced by the estimated 39,000 chiropractors in the United States. The largest group, about 32,000, consists of “broad scope” chiropractors.

“These chiropractors manipulate the spine to restore nerve flow and function,” says Rondberg, “but their goal is diagnose, treat and eliminate specific symptoms and conditions.” They might use other methods such as physical therapy, nutrition and acupuncture.

About 7,000 “straight” chiropractors, including Network chiropractors, practice in Palmer’s tradition. According to Rondberg, they do not diagnose or treat specific conditions. Instead, they treat subluxations, or partial dislocations of the spine, in an effort to restore normal nerve flow.

“When you restore normal nerve flow and function,” says Rondberg, “you can achieve optimal health, and the body will express 100% of its life force--the energy the Chinese call chi. Straight chiropractors believe this life force, or what they call the body’s innate intelligence, does all the healing. If a cancer goes into remission, for instance, they believe it did so because of (this) innate intelligence.”