What is Chiropractic?
- 執筆者
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竹谷内啓介東京カイロプラクティック院長
日本カイロプラクターズ協会会員
RMIT大学健康科学部カイロプラクティック学科卒業。国際カイロプラクティック試験委員会顧問、日本カイロプラクターズ協会（JAC）会長、世界カイロプラクティック連合（WFC）理事を歴任し、現在は日本カイロプラクターズ協会顧問として、国際標準のカイロプラクティック教育や臨床の普及および日本カイロプラクティック科学学会での研究事業に携わる。主な共訳：カイロプラクティックの安全性と教育に関するWHOガイドライン（世界保健機関）、カイロプラクティックテクニック総覧（エンタプライズ）、脊椎のリハビリテーション（エンタプライズ）など。
About Chiropractic
Chiropractic (comes from the Greek word meaning “treatment by hand”) is a natural healing health care with spinal manipulation (or adjustment) to improve nerve function and restore general health in a surgery-free, drugless environment. As the nervous system, consisting of the brain, the spinal cord, and the nerve roots, controls every function of the human body, chiropractors primarily focus on the spine that protects the nervous system.
Chiropractic was first introduced in 1895 by D.D. Palmer in the US and was brought into Japan by Saburo Kawaguchi in 1916. In 2005, World Health Organization (WHO) published the official guidelines on basic training and safety in chiropractic, and the practice of chiropractic is regulated by law in 50 countries, such as the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Switzerland, etc.
The objective of chiropractic treatment is to relieve nerve interference and enhance the body’s inherent ability to heal itself by correcting spinal misalignment and improving joint function. As a result, chiropractic care can help with many conditions, including musculoskeletal symptoms.
Chiropractic helps following symptoms
Low Back Pain, Acute and Chronic Back Pain, Headache, Stiff Neck, Whiplash injury, Shoulder Stiffness and Pain, Spinal Curvature, Sciatica, Hip and Knee Pain, Thoracic Pain, Prenatal and Postpartum Care, Fatigue, Female Problems, Gastrointestinal problems, Sports injuries, Autonomic Imbalance, Impaired joint motion, Postural problems, Rehabilitation and Health maintenance.
Contraindications
Cancer/Tumour, Infectious and contagious disease, Fractures/ Dislocation of bones, Blood-related disease (clotting disorder) etc.
Difference between Seitai and Chiropractic
In Japan, some people use Chiropractic and Seitai (Japanese manipulative therapy, meaning ‘body alignment’) as synonyms, but the international standard chiropractic treatment we provide is different from Seitai. The scientific theory behind chiropractic practice, learnt at chiropractic colleges/universities in Europe and the United States, is based on the anatomy of the spine and analyzes the body from the viewpoint of neurophysiology and biomechanics, with the purpose of maintaining homeostasis. Chiropractic also differs in its specialty from Seitai, relaxation, Anma massage, Shiatsu, acupuncture, moxibustion, Judo therapy, physical therapy/physiotherapy, and orthopedic surgery (Western medicine).
Local situation in Japan
In Japan, chiropractic has not yet been a national certification since Saburo Kawaguchi introduced it in 1916. Therefore, anyone is free to practice chiropractic, regardless of education, and there are many self-proclaimed chiropractors. Some even confuse massage and relaxation with chiropractic. The Japanese Association of Chiropractors (JAC), a member of the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) affiliated with the World Health Organization (WHO), has published professional guidelines for safety and advertising.
In order to establish registration standards in Japan, the Japan Chiropractic Register (JCR) has been submitting a “Register of Chiropractors” that meet certain standards to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare every year since 2014. The list of registrants is available on the official JCR website.
