Chiropractic is a primary health-care profession that specialises in the diagnosis, treatment and overall management of conditions that are due to mechanical dysfunction of the joints, particularly those of the spine, and their effects on the nervous system. Chiropractors treat problems with joints, bones and muscles, and the effects they have on the nervous system.

Working on all the joints of the body, concentrating particularly on the spine, they use their hands to make often gentle, specific adjustments (the chiropractic word for manipulation) to improve the efficiency of the nervous system and release the body's natural healing ability. Chiropractic does not involve the use of any drugs or surgery.

Chiropractic treatment is suitable for people of all ages.

Regulated Profession

In common with other health professions, chiropractic is regulated by Act of Parliament. The Chiropractors Act 1994 is a good example of modern legislation and it gives strong powers to the regulatory body, the General Chiropractic Council (www.gcc-uk.org).

Chiropractors who are on the GCC’s Statutory Register have met legal criteria for registration and it is a criminal offence for anyone to describe themselves as a chiropractor if they are not registered with the GCC.

Brief history of chiropractic/BCA

The term chiropractic comes from the Greek words ‘cheir’ meaning ‘hand’ and ‘praktikos’ loosely translating to ‘action’.  The use of manipulation is documented as far back as 2700-1500 BC in China and Greece.  The first person to link spinal misalignments with ill health was Hippocrates (400BC) and the practice of manipulation as a treatment for back problems is recorded from this time onwards.  By the 18th and 19th centuries spinal manipulation was very popular. 

The founder of chiropractic was American DD Palmer, he coined the term chiropractic in 1895.  In 1897 Palmer founded a chiropractic teaching school, and his son carried on with the pioneering work and by 1961 chiropractic was the second largest healthcare system in the US. 

Chiropractic reached the UK in the early 1900s and in 1925 the British Chiropractic Association was formed with six members.  It now represents well over 50% of UK registered chiropractors.

The British Chiropractic Association (BCA) is the largest and longest-established association for chiropractors in the UK.