Chiropractic is a structurally based form of health care started by D. D. Palmer in Iowa. The basic premise of chiropractic is that bony misalignment of the vertebrae can disrupt nerve function and create malfunction in the joint and surrounding tissues. The classic form of treatment is the vertebral adjustment.
Over the past 120 years, it has been noted that not only can the spine be misaligned, but all joints can misalign and cause pain, restriction, disability, and other problems. Adjustments for all joints, including the shoulders, knees, and feet, have been developed and are often effective for correcting problems in these areas. The appropriateness, benefits, and risks of chiropractic care depend on the condition and the individual patient; it is not a substitute for medical or surgical treatment when that is indicated. Depending on the nature of the problem and the patient, adjustments can take many forms: light pressure, gentle tapping with adjusting instruments, lying on small foam wedges that apply pressure to specific bones, and manipulation.
It has been acknowledged that adjustments often help to relieve neck, back, and joint pain. It has also been noted that proper vertebral alignment is helpful for a person's optimal health and well-being in a general sense.
Chiropractors and many patients have long noted that not only can misalignment contribute to organ and gland malfunction, but organ and gland problems can contribute to structural stresses and misalignment. Applied Kinesiology is an approach developed within chiropractic that incorporates muscle testing. Dr. Penniston may use it as one part of a broader evaluation, alongside history, examination, and appropriate medical testing. Muscle testing alone has not been established as a reliable way to diagnose organ or gland disorders.
Applied Kinesiology takes considerable time and effort to learn. This is the primary reason it is not widely used by other chiropractors.
At one time, chiropractic was controversial because it was the only profession openly critical of the medical profession and its over-reliance on drugs and surgery. As a punishment, the American Medical Association made it a policy that a medical doctor's referral to a chiropractor was considered unprofessional and could result in the loss of the medical doctor's license.
The landmark antitrust case Wilk v. American Medical Association was initially decided in favor of the chiropractors on September 25, 1987, when federal Judge Susan Getzendanner ruled that the AMA had engaged in an unlawful conspiracy to eliminate the chiropractic profession. [1, 2]
The legal battle concluded in 1990, when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit upheld the decision and the U.S. Supreme Court denied the AMA's final appeals. [1]
Today, medical and chiropractic professionals may coordinate care when appropriate. Decisions about treatments should be based on the patient’s condition, the available evidence, and the risks and benefits of each option.