In the century since chiropractic was founded as a separate and unique health discipline, it has grown to become the third largest primary care system in the world. Only medical doctors and dentists see more patients each year than doctors of chiropractic. In the U.S. alone, an estimated 23-28 million people visit their chiropractor each year and in 1998, more than 74,000 D.C. licenses had been issued in all 50 states.

Seventeen chiropractic colleges in the U.S. are training the next generation of D.C.s and several major universities have announced they will be adding chiropractic colleges to their facilities. A number of peer-reviewed scientific journals, including the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research are dedicated to chiropractic research and are helping chiropractors make great strides in understanding and explaining the science behind the subluxation.

The profession has also been embraced by the new technology. A query at the popular Altavista search engine resulted in 357,450 pages found on the Internet containing information about or references to chiropractic! The United States government includes coverage for chiropractic in its Medicare system, as well as in the Veteran’s Administration Health Care program. Most private insurance and managed health care programs include chiropractic as well, attesting to the almost universal demand for chiropractic among the American public.

Although chiropractic is a uniquely American health care system — having been founded by D.D. Palmer in Davenport, Iowa and developed by his son, B.J. Palmer — its popularity has spread throughout the world, with chiropractors now practicing in dozens of foreign countries, including many developing nations. Chiropractic is represented at the United Nations through the work of chiropractic non-governmental organizations, including the World Chiropractic Alliance.

The growing popularity of chiropractic can be traced to several factors, including a general increase in interest in natural, drug-free health care. While everyone recognizes the need for prescription medication in certain cases, it is also becoming increasingly apparent that our society often over-uses and mis-uses these drugs, which always carry the risk of side effects. The recent report from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies revealed that as many as 98,000 Americans die needlessly each year due to medical errors — more than highway accidents, breast cancer, or AIDS. The report shocked Americans and reinforced their desire to find a safer, drug-free way to maintain their health.

The interest in natural and alternative health care approaches in general — and chiropractic in particular — even spurred President Clinton to form the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy this year.The profession has even made its way into the popular culture, with numerous entertainment and sports celebrities discussing their use of chiropractic. Such famous names include actor and former chairman of the Presidential Council on Physical Fitness Arnold Schwarzenegger, Olympic Decathlon Gold Medalist Dan O’Brien, best-selling author John Robbins, singing legends Van Halen and Madonna, dancer Shirley MacLaine — and hundreds of others.