September 18, 1895 – On this special day 120 years ago, a momentous shift in health care took place, with the beginnings of the unique, distinct healing art, philosophy and science we now know of as Chiropractic.
A pioneering clinician by the name of Dr. Daniel David Palmer administered the first specific chiropractic adjustment in history on his patient, Harvey Lillard on September 18th, 1895. Dr. Palmer delivered this historic first chiropractic adjustment with the specific intent of realigning a malpositioned vertebra on his patient, restoring its normal alignment; Harvey Lillard, who had lost most of his hearing 17 years earlier, found his hearing rapidly returned under Dr. Palmer’s care.
Following that transforming breakthrough, Dr. D.D. Palmer shifted his clinical practice to his new method of realigning spinal segments that were out of alignment, and experienced an exciting range of
positive clinical results in patients coming to him with a wide variety of health concerns. His practice grew and the profession of Chiropractic advanced, growing into the unique, drugless and distinct doctor-level health care profession helping patients around the world today.
Chiropractic has now become a vital part of the main stream of health care, and every day in countries around the world, millions of individuals of all ages, from newborn infants to the most senior of our citizens, seek the care of a Doctor of Chiropractic. Throughout its history, the chiropractic profession has provided clinically efficacious, cost-effective and safe care to millions of patients worldwide, and has earned the highest patient satisfaction levels of any doctor-level health care science.