In 1897, D.D. Palmer had a school where he taught students his clinical methods of palpation and adjusting of the spine in Davenport, Iowa and referred to this new practice as Chiropractic. 

By the early 1900’s, the Chiropractic Paradigm had its objective solidified as the following:

“Vertebral Subluxation impinges nerves which causes dysfunction and the Chiropractic Adjustment of Vertebral Subluxation influences normal function, improved tone, and health.”

D.D. Palmer’s clinical methods lead him to believe that vertebrae or bones in the spine could be displaced slightly or in other words an “incomplete luxation” within the articular surfaces.  Articular surfaces are the parts where the bones stacked on top of each other meet to glide and move.

D.D. Palmer believed that when these vertebrae suffered an incomplete luxation, the neurological tissue that is surrounded by the bones of the spine can have an impingement or stretching to the tissue due to the new negative structure of the vertebrae in their luxated position.

The Chiropractic Luxation was the founding terminology for what we now call vertebral subluxation.

The terminology has changed, but the art has its heritage still grounded in the similar tactics that D.D. Palmer performed over 125 years ago. With time comes more knowledge and study and the science and understanding physiology over the the last century is confirming what was once just clinical postulation. 

Where will the next 125 years take the profession, research and art of adjusting chiropractic luxations or vertebral subluxations? What will the profession gain in insight to better educate and equip to serve society the philosophy, science and art of Chiropractic?

D.D. and B.J. Palmer spent years in the making of the philosophy of Chiropractic and the search for more understanding still exists and has room for positive learning about what we don’t yet know. When founding and developing the technical excellence of Chiropractic, the Palmers always stayed within their lane per say by sticking to having a philosophical basis to what they were pursuing. 

The language may have changed from luxation to subluxation, but the philosophical objective has remained true and tested. 

In the past 10 years of practice, I’ve learned more and seen more positive impacts on the quality of life within the community I serve than I ever thought possible. With this growth in understanding of the benefits of chiropractic on well-being, I’ve come to humble myself with the idea that there is still more to learn and that my professional opinion is just getting started.