"Did You Know?" The Chiropractic Trivia Edition!

It’s time for some chiropractic trivia, especially chiropractic trivia questions for patients! “Did You Know?” The Chiropractic Edition! Chiropractic is one of the fastest-growing fields in healthcare. Whether you are considering visiting a chiropractor for the first time or are a devoted fan of your chiropractor, here are some great insights on Chiropractic and the benefits of getting adjusted.

Top Chiropractic Statistics

• More than 35 million people in the U.S. see a chiropractor every year.
• Over one million chiropractic adjustments are performed every day in the United States.
• Women between 45 and 64 are most likely to receive chiropractic care.
• Over 70,000 licensed chiropractors practice in the United States.
• 77% of patients who receive chiropractic care positively describe it as “very effective.”
• The probability of injury during a chiropractic adjustment is 40 injuries per 100,000 subjects.

How Many People in the U.S. Visit Chiropractors?

Chiropractors see over 35 million Americans yearly, roughly 10% of the population, including both children and adults.

In the U.S. alone, roughly one million chiropractic adjustments are performed daily. With roughly 25% of U.S. adults living with chronic pain, it’s no wonder many patients want to relieve their pain without harmful drugs and dangerous surgeries.

Who is the “Average” Chiropractic Patient?

In fact, women and those between 45 and 64 are most likely to see a chiropractor. Roughly 60% of patients who visit a chiropractor are female, and children between 12 and 17 are most likely to see a chiropractor.

Why Do People See a Chiropractor?

46% of chiropractic patients receive care for lower back pain, which is why most people see a chiropractor. Comparatively, neck pain and headaches are the second and third most common reasons for seeing a chiropractor. Back pain, neck pain, and headaches can result from an accident, sports injuries, or a chronic condition like arthritis.

Chiropractic Statistics*:

• Over 35 million Americans receive chiropractic care every year.
• Over one million chiropractic adjustments are rendered in the U.S. every day.
• Women make up 60% of chiropractic patients.
• People between 45 and 64 are most likely to see a chiropractor.
• Children receiving chiropractic care are typically between 12 and 17.
• 46% of patients reported lower back pain as their reason for seeing a chiropractor.

How Many Chiropractors Are There?

In 2022, over 70,000 licensed chiropractors were practicing in the U.S. Roughly 10,000 students are studying to become chiropractors at one of the many accredited chiropractic schools nationwide. There are approximately 100,000 worldwide. Statista shows that California and Florida have the highest number of practicing chiropractors.

Do Chiropractors Help Back Pain?

In fact, over 75% of patients receiving chiropractic care seek relief from back pain and describe it as “very effective.” Research published by Consumer Reports showed that Chiropractic care outperformed prescription medication, deep-tissue massage, yoga, and meditation for effectively treating lower back pain.

Did you know… 65% of the patients surveyed said chiropractic “helped a lot.” Many Chiropractors also use complementary therapies like acupuncture, laser therapy, and electric muscle stimulation.

Is Chiropractic Care Effective for Neck Pain?

Studies have proven chiropractic care is also very good at relieving neck pain, headaches, and migraines. Published studies show that chiropractic adjustments can reduce pain and increase cervical flexibility. In fact, patients receiving Chiropractic care reduced their Neck Disability Index scores by over 70%.

Did You Know What Causes Back Pain?

The back is a complicated structure of bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles. You can sprain ligaments, strain muscles, rupture disks, and irritate joints, all of which can lead to back pain. While sports injuries or accidents can cause back pain, sometimes the simplest movements— like picking up a pencil from the floor— can have painful results. In addition, arthritis, poor posture, obesity, and psychological stress can cause or complicate back pain. Back pain can also directly result from diseases of the internal organs, such as kidney stones, kidney infections, blood clots, or bone loss.

What is the History of Chiropractic?

Chiropractic care began in Iowa in 1895, making it a relatively young profession compared to medicine. D.D. Palmer performed the first chiropractic adjustment on Harvey Lillard. Mr. Lillard had lost his hearing after a back injury. After Dr. Palmer adjusted a misaligned vertebra, Mr. Lillard miraculously regained his hearing, marking the start of chiropractic history. That event is celebrated as Founders Day every year on September 18th.

In 1981, Roger Sperry was awarded the Nobel Prize for his research, which showed that 90% of the brain’s stimulation and nutrition come from the movement of the spine. This discovery showed the importance of Chiropractic care for not only spinal function but also cerebral functioning.

The Spears Chiropractic Hospital in Denver

In 1933, Dr. Leo Spears founded the Spears Free Clinic and Hospital for Poor Children, which later became the renowned Spears Chiropractic Hospital. At its height, the clinic cared for 200-300 patients daily, offering life-changing chiropractic care. Prior to World War II, Dr. Spears expanded his reach to rural communities through the innovative Spears Traveling Clinic, a mobile healthcare unit designed to bring chiropractic care to underserved areas.

In 1940, Dr. Spears embarked on an ambitious project to establish a chiropractic hospital. He acquired 15 acres of ranch land east of Denver at a tax sale, and by May 1, 1943, the first facility—a 236-bed unit dedicated to chiropractic pioneer Dr. Willard Carver—was opened. As demand grew, a second, larger building with 364 beds was added in 1949, dedicated to D.D. Palmer, the founder of chiropractic.

Throughout its operation, the Spears Chiropractic Hospital provided over $5 million in free services, a figure that would exceed $5 billion in today’s economy, reflecting its enormous impact on the community. Dr. David S. Walther and his father had the privilege of knowing and working with Dr. Spears during his lifetime, further cementing the hospital’s legacy within the chiropractic field.

Can You be Injured from a Chiropractic Adjustment?

Did you know… Chiropractic adjustments result in approximately 40 injuries per 100,000 visits in patient populations over 66. Medical visits result in 153 injuries per 100,000 visits in that same patient population. That’s almost four times the rate of injured patients as Chiropractors.

10 Best Chiropractic Quotes (plus 2)

• “Regular chiropractic adjustments go hand-in-hand with good health.” – Peter Fonda
• “The highest ideal of cure is the speedy, gentle, and enduring restoration of health by the most trustworthy and least harmful way.” – Samuel Hahnemann
• “The spine is the lifeline. A lot of people should go to a chiropractor but they don’t know it.” – Jack LaLanne
• “The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest the patient in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.” – Thomas Edison
• “Life is but the expression of spirit through matter. To make life manifest requires the union of spirit and body.” – D.D. Palmer
• “Let your food be your medicine and your medicine your food.” – Hippocrates
• “The greatest discovery of any generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering the attitudes of their minds.” – Albert Schweitzer
• “Bodybuilders and fitness people have been using, very extensively, chiropractors in order to stay healthy and fit. Whenever I had a little problem with my body, I always ran to one of my dear friends, he was always right there with the adjustments. This is how I found out the best way of going, is to use chiropractors, not only after injuries, but also before injury.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger
• “I feel it my bounden duty to not only replace displaced bones, but also teach others, so that the physical and spiritual may enjoy health, happiness and the full fruition of our earthly lives.” – D.D. Palmer
• “Two and three years after patients with back pain were treated by chiropractors, they experienced far less pain than those who were treated by medical doctors.” – British Medical Journal
• “The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while Nature cures the disease.” – Voltaire
• “The person who takes medicine must recover twice, once from the disease and once from the medicine.” – William Osler, M.D.

How Often Do Chiropractors Cause Strokes?

Of the many studies examining the incidence of stroke after chiropractic care (specifically cervical manipulation), they find between one and three stroke incidents per 1,000,000 (that’s ONE MILLION) chiropractic visits. With this in mind, to perform 1,000,000 million adjustments, you would have to adjust roughly 20 patients a day, five days a week, 52 weeks a year, for almost 200 years!

How Long is Chiropractic Education?

The path to becoming a chiropractor demands dedication and perseverance. A Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree, a prerequisite for this profession, typically spans four years of intensive study, following at least two years of prerequisite studies. It’s important to note that in most states, a bachelor’s degree is also a requirement, in addition to the chiropractic degree, to obtain a license for practice.

Chiropractic school is not just about theoretical learning. It’s a hands-on, practical experience that prepares you for the real world of chiropractic medicine. As part of your training, you’ll complete a mandatory 900-hour internship in your school’s clinic, gaining invaluable experience. Before you can graduate, you’ll also sit for a series of National board exams, ensuring your knowledge and skills are up to par. Did you know that once a student earns a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, they must also pass written and oral board exams in the state they wish to practice in, further solidifying their readiness?

There is a great deal of similarity between chiropractic and medical school programs, especially in terms of the basic sciences. 

How Many Deaths Are Caused by Chiropractors?

Did you know that deaths caused by Chiropractic adjustments are extremely rare? Cervical adjustments cause significantly fewer deaths than cervical surgeries. In fact, research shows the risk of dying from chiropractic neck adjustments is between one and three per ONE MILLION adjustments. The estimated risk of death during spinal surgery is 555 per 100,000 patients. For comparison, accidental falls cause 13.7 deaths per 100,000 people, while accidental poisonings cause 30.7 deaths per 100,000 people.

In short, the benefits of affordable chiropractic care vastly outweigh the risks associated with other treatments or even daily events that we all take part in. In fact, our patients frequently tell us they get relief from conditions unrelated to their initial complaints. Still have questions about affordable Chiropractic? Looking for a Chiropractor in Denver? Contact us! Still not sure? Please read some of our 5-Star Google reviews to learn why we are the chiropractor Denver seeks for fast, effective, and lasting pain relief. We’ve been helping patients in Arvada, Denver, and Wheat Ridge, Colorado, for over 20 years. Lastly, learn more about the conditions we treat and the benefits of the many types of treatment we provide on our Health Articles page. You can even learn more about treatments like Acupuncture and nutrition (our most popular nutrition post is about the benefits of 16/8 Intermittent fasting). Ready to start feeling better? Book an appointment online!

*Statistics for 2022