Historical records indicate that manipulative (skillful work done by hand) therapies have existed throughout recorded time. Soft tissue (muscle, ligament and tendon) manipulation was documented in Chinese literature as far back as 2000 years ago.
Manipulation of the spinal joints has been traced to historical documents from ancient Greece which are now 2500 years old. Although these are the first written records describing manipulative therapy, it is believed that the actual procedures have roots which go much further back in time.
Hippocrates (circa 460-377 B.C.) is known as the father of modern medicine. He wrote dozens of manuscripts concerning the healing arts including one focusing on manipulative therapy. These writings represent the first historical account of spinal manipulative therapy. Hippocrates recognized the relationship of the spine to health and disease. It is said that he instructed his students to, "Get knowledge of the spine, for this is requisite for many diseases."
In the centuries following Hippocrates, a handful of physicians practiced his methods of spinal manipulation. For the most part, manipulative therapy survived by being handed down informally from one generation to another. During this time manipulative therapy was often described as "bonesetting";. In the late 1800's manipulative therapy was revived and later claimed by both the professions of osteopathy and chiropractic (although under different premises) as a principal mode of treating human ailments. |
