The Birth of a New Healing Art (1895)
The chiropractic profession traces its roots back to September 18, 1895, when Daniel David Palmer (D.D. Palmer) performed the first spinal adjustment in Davenport, Iowa. Palmer was a self-educated healer who was deeply interested in the relationship between the spine, nervous system, and overall health. His patient, Harvey Lillard, was a janitor who had lost most of his hearing 17 years earlier after a back injury. After Palmer adjusted a vertebra in Lillard’s spine, Lillard reported a dramatic improvement in his hearing.
This event marked the beginning of what Palmer would call “chiropractic,” derived from the Greek words cheir (hand) and praktikos (done), meaning “done by hand.” Palmer proposed a radical idea for his time: that many health problems could be traced back to spinal misalignments, or “subluxations,” which interfere with the body’s innate intelligence—its inborn ability to regulate and heal itself.
Early Growth and Struggle (Late 1800s – Early 1900s)
In 1897, Palmer founded the Palmer School of Chiropractic, the first institution dedicated to teaching chiropractic methods. His son, Bartlett Joshua Palmer (B.J. Palmer), later took over the school and is often referred to as “The Developer” of chiropractic. B.J. Palmer played a critical role in formalizing chiropractic education, promoting the profession across the United States, and incorporating emerging technologies, including X-rays, into chiropractic diagnostics.
Despite growing public interest, early chiropractors faced hostility and legal persecution from the established medical community. Chiropractors were often charged with practicing medicine without a license—sometimes even jailed. In fact, over 700 chiropractors were jailed in the early 20th century for practicing without medical licenses. This period of struggle also helped galvanize the profession, which began organizing, lobbying, and educating the public about the benefits of chiropractic care.
Chiropractic Gains Recognition (Mid-20th Century)
Throughout the 20th century, chiropractic gained increasing legal and professional recognition. As public demand grew and patient outcomes supported its legitimacy, states began enacting chiropractic licensure laws. Louisiana was the final U.S. state to license chiropractors in 1974, marking a major milestone for the profession.
During this time, chiropractic colleges expanded, standardized their curricula, and required national board exams for licensure. Organizations like the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE)and Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) were formed to promote educational standards and ensure professional competency.
Chiropractic also began to diversify in philosophy. While some practitioners adhered to Palmer's original vitalistic philosophy focused on subluxation and innate intelligence, others emphasized a more biomechanical and evidence-based approach. This ongoing philosophical diversity continues within the profession today.
Medical Opposition and Legal Victory
For decades, chiropractic was dismissed or attacked by the American Medical Association (AMA). In 1963, the AMA even created a Committee on Quackery aimed at undermining chiropractic. This led to a landmark antitrust lawsuit in 1976: Wilk v. AMA. In 1987, the U.S. District Court ruled in favor of the chiropractors, stating that the AMA had engaged in an unlawful conspiracy to eliminate the chiropractic profession. This decision was a major victory and helped open the door to wider collaboration between chiropractors and other healthcare providers.
The Modern Chiropractic Profession (21st Century)
Today, chiropractic is a well-established and licensed healthcare profession recognized in more than 90 countries worldwide. Chiropractors are trained in neuromusculoskeletal diagnosis, spinal manipulation, rehabilitation, and holistic wellness. In the United States, they complete four years of doctoral education following undergraduate studies, and must pass a series of national and state board exams.
Modern chiropractors often work collaboratively with medical doctors, physical therapists, and other providers in integrated care settings. While spinal manipulation remains central to practice, many chiropractors also incorporate soft tissue therapy, exercise rehabilitation, ergonomic advice, lifestyle coaching, and nutritional counseling into their treatment plans.
Scientific research has increasingly supported the use of chiropractic care for certain conditions—especially acute and chronic low back pain, neck pain, tension headaches, and migraine prevention. Organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) have acknowledged the value of chiropractic care in managing musculoskeletal disorders.
Looking Ahead
As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, chiropractic is poised to play a growing role in non-invasive, drug-free pain management and preventive health care. With a commitment to evidence-based practice, patient education, and integrative care, the profession continues to honor its hands-on roots while embracing the future of health and wellness.
Chiropractic care is a natural, hands-on approach to health that focuses on the spine, joints, muscles, and nervous system. At its core, chiropractic is about helping your body function at its best—not just treating symptoms, but addressing the root cause of discomfort and imbalance.
At Whiteley Chiropractic, we specialize in this holistic approach to health and healing, helping patients of all ages move better, feel better, and live more actively.
How It Works
Your spine plays a central role in your health—it protects the spinal cord, which is part of your central nervous system, the communication highway between your brain and body. When the spine is out of alignment (known as a subluxation), it can create stress on nearby nerves, disrupt communication between body systems, and lead to pain, tension, or reduced mobility.
Chiropractors are trained to locate these areas of misalignment and correct them using precise spinal adjustments. These adjustments restore movement, relieve pressure, and support the body's natural ability to heal itself—without drugs or surgery.
What Chiropractic Helps With
Chiropractic care is best known for treating:
At Whiteley Chiropractic, we often see patients not only get relief from chronic pain but also experience improvements in sleep, energy, digestion, and overall well-being.
Your First Visit
Your initial visit at Whiteley Chiropractic includes a comprehensive consultation, thorough examination, and, if needed, digital X-rays. We take the time to understand your health goals and create a personalized care plan tailored to your needs.
Whether you're dealing with a specific issue or just want to stay proactive about your health, we’re here to help you feel and function at your best.
In Simple Terms...
Chiropractic care helps your body heal and perform better by restoring balance to your spine and nervous system—naturally.
At Whiteley Chiropractic, we're here to support you every step of the way.
Spinal & Joint Pain
Disc & Nerve Issues
Headaches & Migraines
Postural Strain & Repetitive Use Injuries
Injuries
Extremity Conditions
Other Conditions Some Patients Report Improvement With
What Chiropractic Care Does
Chiropractic adjustments aim to:
At Whiteley Chiropractic, we take a thorough, personalized approach to care. Whether you're dealing with new pain, an old injury, or general stiffness and tension, we're here to help you move better, feel better, and function at your best—naturally and drug-free.
A deeper look at the training behind the care you receive at Whiteley Chiropractic
When you visit a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC), you're seeing a healthcare professional with extensive education, clinical training, and diagnostic experience. Chiropractors are not only spinal health specialists—they're also well-versed in anatomy, physiology, radiology, and natural approaches to wellness.
Let’s break down the path it takes to become a chiropractor and why you can trust the expertise behind your care at Whiteley Chiropractic.
🎓 Step 1: Undergraduate Education
Before entering a chiropractic doctoral program, students must complete at least 90 credit hours (about 3 years) of undergraduate study, and most earn a bachelor’s degree—often in biology, kinesiology, or a related field.
Typical pre-chiropractic courses include:
This foundation prepares students to enter an intensive chiropractic curriculum focused on human function, spinal biomechanics, and holistic health.
🏫 Step 2: Doctor of Chiropractic Program
The Doctor of Chiropractic degree is a four-year postgraduate program accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE). Chiropractic students complete over 4,200 hours of classroom instruction, laboratory work, and hands-on clinical practice.
Key areas of study include:
Chiropractic students also study internal disorders, so they know when to refer a patient to another provider when care outside the scope of chiropractic is needed.
🧪 Step 3: National and State Licensing
After graduation, chiropractors must pass a series of four national board exams administered by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE). These exams cover everything from basic sciences to clinical diagnosis and chiropractic technique.
To practice in their state, chiropractors must also:
This ensures that your chiropractor remains up-to-date on research, safety protocols, and best practices.
🎯 Optional: Postgraduate Specialization
Many chiropractors choose to pursue additional certifications or diplomates in specialized areas, such as:
These advanced studies allow chiropractors to deepen their clinical expertise and offer a broader range of services to patients.
🏥 Why It Matters for You as a Patient
When you receive care at Whiteley Chiropractic, you're in the hands of a doctor who:
🤝 Trust in Training. Confidence in Care.
At Whiteley Chiropractic, we believe that education and compassion go hand in hand. You deserve care from someone who not only understands the science of the body, but also takes the time to understand you.
The Man Behind the Method: Dr. Clarence S. Gonstead (1898–1978)
The Gonstead chiropractic system was developed by Dr. Clarence Selmer Gonstead, a mechanical engineer-turned-chiropractor whose meticulous approach revolutionized spinal care. Born in 1898 in Wisconsin, Gonstead initially worked as an automotive engineer. His background in mechanical systems shaped his understanding of the spine as a complex, weight-bearing structure requiring precise biomechanical alignment.
In his early 20s, Gonstead suffered from a severe episode of acute arthritis that left him unable to walk. After receiving chiropractic care and making a full recovery, he enrolled at Palmer School of Chiropractic, graduating in 1923.
Engineering Precision Meets Chiropractic Science
Drawing on his engineering mindset, Dr. Gonstead focused on improving the specificity and effectiveness of spinal adjustments. He rejected the idea of “gross manipulation” in favor of precise, segmental corrections to individual vertebrae. His system emphasized:
Gonstead believed that correcting spinal misalignments at their exact source—without rotational or twisting movements—was the key to unlocking the body’s natural healing abilities.
Core Elements of the Gonstead System
The Gonstead Method is known for its rigorous diagnostic process, often called the “five criteria” for locating subluxations:
The Gonstead adjustment is delivered with high specificity, low force, and no twisting or rotational techniques—often with the patient seated or lying on a specially designed Gonstead adjustment table.
The Mt. Horeb Clinic: “The Largest Chiropractic Clinic in the World”
Dr. Gonstead built a reputation for clinical excellence, attracting patients from across the country. In 1964, he opened the Gonstead Clinic of Chiropractic in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin—a state-of-the-art, 22,000-square-foot facility that included a hotel for out-of-town patients. At its peak, the clinic saw hundreds of patients per day, and Gonstead personally adjusted over 1 million spines in his lifetime.
He also trained many chiropractors in his method, though he was careful to preserve its integrity. His emphasis on reproducibility, specificity, and results made the Gonstead Method one of the most trusted techniques in chiropractic care.
Legacy and Continuing Education
Dr. Gonstead passed away in 1978, but his legacy lives on. The Gonstead Clinical Studies Society (GCSS) and other organizations continue to teach and preserve his technique. Many chiropractic colleges offer Gonstead technique clubs and electives, and certified seminars are held worldwide.
Today, Gonstead chiropractic is practiced internationally and is especially valued for its:
Why Gonstead Matters
In an era of generalized care, the Gonstead system stands out for its precision, thoroughness, and deep respect for spinal structure and function. For patients and chiropractors who value individualized, science-informed care, the Gonstead Method remains a gold standard in the chiropractic profession.
Even a minor car accident can have a major impact on your body. From whiplash to back pain, headaches, and soft tissue injuries, the effects aren’t always immediate—and often go unnoticed until days or even weeks later.
That’s why seeking prompt, natural care after an auto injury is so important. And that’s where chiropractic care plays a key role.
The Hidden Impact of Auto Accidents
A sudden collision, even at low speeds, can force your spine and joints out of proper alignment. The muscles, ligaments, and discs in your neck and back absorb the brunt of the impact, leading to inflammation, stiffness, nerve irritation, and pain.
Some of the most common injuries we see after auto accidents include:
These issues often stem from microtrauma to the spine and nervous system, even when there are no broken bones or visible injuries.
How Chiropractic Care Helps
Chiropractors are trained to identify and correct subtle misalignments in the spine—often before they show up on standard imaging. Through gentle, targeted adjustments, chiropractic care can:
Chiropractic care focuses on the spine and nervous system. When joints are gently realigned and soft tissues are relieved of tension, it allows your body to function more normally and reduces one of the most common root causes of headaches.
Chiropractic has been shown to:
Unlike medication, which only masks the pain, chiropractic care works to address the actual source—without the side effects of drugs or overuse concerns.
What to Expect at Whiteley Chiropractic
At Whiteley Chiropractic, we take a whole-person approach. We’ll start with a thorough consultation and exam to identify possible spinal misalignments, muscle imbalances, or lifestyle triggers contributing to your headaches.
If chiropractic care is appropriate for your situation, we’ll design a personalized care plan that may include:
Many patients report a significant decrease in headache frequency and intensity after just a few visits.
You Don’t Have to Live with Headaches
If headaches are interfering with your life, there’s a natural, effective alternative to medication.
At Whiteley Chiropractic, we’re here to help you feel better, move better, and reclaim your daily comfort—without relying on constant pain relief.
Low back pain is one of the leading reasons people miss work, avoid activities they enjoy, or seek medical help. Whether it’s a dull ache, sharp spasm, or radiating pain into the legs, chronic or recurring low back pain can seriously impact your quality of life.
At Whiteley Chiropractic, we specialize in addressing the root causes of low back pain—not just covering up the symptoms. Through gentle, targeted chiropractic care, we help patients get out of pain and back to doing the things they love.
Common Causes of Low Back Pain
Your lower back (lumbar spine) carries much of your body’s weight and is constantly engaged in bending, lifting, twisting, and sitting. Over time—or sometimes suddenly—this area can become strained or misaligned.
Common causes of low back pain include:
If spinal joints become restricted or misaligned, they can irritate surrounding nerves and muscles, leading to pain, inflammation, and loss of mobility.
How Chiropractic Can Help
Chiropractic care focuses on restoring proper alignment and motion in the spine. When your spine moves the way it’s designed to, there’s less strain on your muscles, discs, and nerves—and that means less pain.
At Whiteley Chiropractic, we use gentle, specific adjustments to:
Research shows that chiropractic care is a safe and effective first-line treatment for many types of low back pain—and it often works faster and more affordably than medication or surgery.
What to Expect at Whiteley Chiropractic
Your first visit includes a comprehensive evaluation, including posture checks, range-of-motion testing, and spinal assessment. If necessary, we may recommend X-rays to better understand what’s going on inside your spine.
From there, we’ll create a personalized care plan that may include:
Whether your back pain started recently or has been bothering you for years, we’re here to help you find real, lasting relief—naturally.
Your Back Deserves Better
You don’t have to live with low back pain. Chiropractic care offers a safe, drug-free way to feel better, move better, and enjoy life again.
At Whiteley Chiropractic, we’re committed to helping you recover fully—and stay well for the long term.
Nutrition Response Testing® is a non-invasive, precise way to evaluate how your body is functioning and to identify nutritional deficiencies, toxic stress, and organ imbalances that may be interfering with your health. It’s based on the idea that the body has an amazing ability to heal itself—if we identify and remove the barriers to healing.
At Whiteley Chiropractic, we use Nutrition Response Testing as a tool to uncover the root causes of your health concerns and create individualized nutrition programs to support your body’s natural healing process.
How It Works
Nutrition Response Testing is based on applied kinesiology, or muscle testing. During the exam, we assess the strength of specific muscles in response to light pressure while testing reflex points related to various organs and systems in your body. If a reflex point tests weak, it may indicate stress or dysfunction in that area.
We then use safe, whole-food supplements and test them against your body to see which ones strengthen the muscle response—helping us determine what specific support your body needs right now.
At Whiteley Chiropractic, we often find that this process helps patients get answers they've been missing, especially when conventional tests come back “normal” but symptoms persist.
What Can It Help With?
Many people seek Nutrition Response Testing when they’re dealing with:
Because it’s customized to each person’s needs, Nutrition Response Testing allows us to pinpoint exactly where your body is stressed and support it with targeted, natural solutions.
Why Whiteley Chiropractic?
We take the time to listen, test, and develop a nutrition plan that’s as unique as you are. Whether you’re looking for answers to stubborn health problems or simply want to feel your best, our goal is to help you restore balance from the inside out—gently, naturally, and effectively.
In Simple Terms...
Nutrition Response Testing helps us understand what your body needs to heal, using muscle testing and whole-food nutrition—without guesswork or unnecessary medication.
Your neck—also called the cervical spine—is a remarkably flexible and complex structure, made up of seven small vertebrae supported by muscles, ligaments, discs, and nerves. This mobility makes it vulnerable to:
When any of these components are out of balance, they can lead to pain, tension, reduced mobility, and even symptoms like headaches, shoulder pain, or tingling in the arms and hands.
How Chiropractic Care Helps
Chiropractic care focuses on correcting spinal misalignments and improving motion in the joints. With specific, gentle adjustments, chiropractors help restore proper alignment to the cervical spine, relieving pressure on nerves and surrounding tissues.
Research shows that chiropractic care can:
Many patients report feeling better even after their first few visits, especially when chiropractic is combined with lifestyle advice, stretching, and posture correction.
What to Expect at Whiteley Chiropractic
At Whiteley Chiropractic, we begin with a thorough consultation and evaluation to understand the root cause of your neck pain. If needed, we may take X-rays to get a clearer picture of your spinal health. From there, we create a personalized care plan designed to restore balance, reduce pain, and support long-term wellness.
Whether your neck pain is new, chronic, or the result of an old injury that never healed properly, we offer care that’s gentle, effective, and tailored to your body’s needs.
You Don’t Have to Live with Neck Pain
If neck pain is interfering with your life, chiropractic care may be the natural solution you’ve been looking for.
At Whiteley Chiropractic, we’re here to help you move more freely, feel better, and get back to doing the things you enjoy—without relying on painkillers or invasive procedures.
At Whiteley Chiropractic, we understand that not all back pain responds well to forceful adjustments—especially when it involves disc injuries, sciatica, or post-surgical discomfort. That’s why we offer Flexion-Distraction Therapy using the advanced Leander Table, a gentle and highly effective treatment option for spinal conditions.
What Is Flexion-Distraction Therapy?
Flexion-Distraction is a chiropractic technique designed to relieve pressure on spinal discs and nerves by gently stretching and mobilizing the spine. It’s particularly effective for:
This approach is non-invasive, safe, and does not involve any forceful cracking or twisting of the spine.
How the Leander Table Enhances Your Care
The Leander Table is a motorized adjusting table that rhythmically moves the lower half of your body in a gentle up-and-down motion. This controlled flexion and distraction creates a pumping effect in the spine that helps to:
The table can also be used in combination with precise manual adjustments, soft tissue therapies, and rehabilitative exercises—all tailored to your individual needs.
What to Expect During a Session
You’ll lie comfortably face down on the Leander Table while the lower portion of the table moves slowly, creating a soothing motion in your spine. Your chiropractor may apply light pressure or specific contact points to enhance the therapeutic effect. Many patients find the treatment relaxing, relieving, and highly effective—even during their first visit.
A Gentle Path Back to Comfort
Whether you’re recovering from an injury, dealing with a disc problem, or simply looking for a more comfortable approach to spinal care, Flexion-Distraction Therapy with the Leander Table at Whiteley Chiropractic may be the right solution for you.
We’re here to help you heal naturally, feel better, and move with confidence—without relying on drugs or surgery.
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