Fun (and not-so-fun) facts from 125 years of chiropractic

A history of facts and oddities from 125 years of chiropractic

The first U.S. state law licensing chiropractors was passed in 1913, and by 1931, 39 states had given chiropractors legal recognition.1
Each day more than one million adjustments take place across the globe.2
Over 125 years of chiropractic, the first blind chiropractor was Charles Robinson Johnson, born in a mining camp and accidentally blinded at age 27. He graduated from the Palmer School of Chiropractic in 1918 at the age of 39. 4
Women are twice as likely to suffer from severe headaches or migraines than men.9
Chronic pain causes depression in 77% of people who report it.9
Chronic pain costs the U.S. $2,000 per year in health care costs per person on average, with 36 million Americans missing work per year.9
Whiplash, one of the most common car accident injuries, is treated primarily by chiropractors over 125 years of chiropractic care.6
A Nobel prize winner by the name of Roger Sperry found that 90% of the brain’s stimulation and nutrition comes from the movement of the spine.7
An injured worker is 28 times less likely to have spinal surgery if the first point of contact is a DC rather than a surgeon.2
There are approximately 10,000 chiropractic students in 18 nationally accredited, chiropractic doctoral graduate education programs across the United States, with 2,500 chiropractors entering the workforce every year.8
The term “chiropractic” derives from two Grecian words: “cheir” which means hand, and “praktos” which means done. “Done by Hand”2
It is estimated that DCs treat over 35 million Americans; this includes adults and children annually.2
Treatment for low-back pain initiated by a DC costs up to 20% less than when started by a medical doctor.2
Workers in the health care industry sustain 4.5 times more overexertion injuries than any other type of worker.9
In 2017, the American College of Physicians released an update to its low-back pain treatment guideline that recommends first using non-drug treatments, such as spinal manipulation (a centerpiece of chiropractic care), for acute and chronic low-back pain. Also in 2017, a systematic review/meta-analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association supports the use of spinal manipulative therapy as a first-line treatment for acute low-back pain.8
A clinical comparative trial conducted at three military medical centers found that chiropractic care combined with usual medical care for low-back pain provides greater pain relief and a greater reduction in disability than medical care alone.8
An estimated 10% of the world’s population suffers from lower back pain.9
29% of Americans believe stress is the cause of their back pain.9
More than one million back injuries are sustained in the workplace annually.9
Nursing assistants suffer the most from work-related musculoskeletal disorders involving the back.9
Americans spend at least $50 billion annually on treating back pain.9
Back pain accounts for more than 264 million lost workdays each year.9
Three in four people who saw a chiropractor in the last year (77%) described chiropractic care as “very effective.”8
After the common cold, back injuries are the biggest reason for absenteeism from work.9
A study involving almost 1,000 people over a period of 12 months concluded that one-third of patients are likely to have a recurrent back-injury episode, with approximately half having to seek care.9
Research by The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine found that replacing a visit to a doctor with a visit to a chiropractor for back pain could save Medicare $83.5 million every year.9
People who are immunodeficient can seek chiropractic care for treatment of their symptoms. While it is not a cure for immune disorders, a chiropractor has effective therapies for such challenges as joint pain and digestive problems.3
All 32 NFL teams have their own chiropractor to boost performance, maintain wellness and treat musculoskeletal strain and injury.2
The lifetime prevalence of low-back pain is reported to be as high as 84%.3
Chiropractic assistants (CAs) number 40,000 in clinical and business management roles for chiropractic practices across the United States.8
Over 125 years of chiropractic, chiropractors are the third-largest group of medical practitioner, and nearly one out of 10 Americans goes to a chiropractor each year.5
Chiropractors are designated as physician-level providers in the vast majority of states and the federal Medicare program. The essential services provided by chiropractors are also available in federal health delivery systems, including those administered by Medicaid, the U.S. Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense, Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, Federal Workers’ Compensation, and all state workers’ compensation programs.8
Today, there are more than 70,000 active chiropractic licenses in the United States. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands officially recognize chiropractic as a health care profession. Many other countries also recognize and regulate chiropractic, including Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, Australia, Japan and Switzerland