From One Adjustment to a Worldwide Profession: Celebrating Chiropractic History Month
For chiropractic, the true story goes back to September 18, 1895, in Davenport, Iowa.
It began with D.D. Palmer and a man named Harvey Lillard, who worked in the same building where Palmer had his office. Lillard had been living with significant hearing loss for years and told Palmer that it had started after he felt a “pop” in his back while working in a cramped position.
That story caught Palmer’s attention.
After examining Lillard’s spine, Palmer believed he found an area that was not moving or positioned normally and decided to try a hands-on adjustment. That moment is widely recognized as the first chiropractic adjustment.
Historical accounts say that Lillard later reported an improvement in his hearing. While that story is an important part of chiropractic history, it’s best understood as the event that sparked Palmer’s curiosity and led him to keep studying the relationship between the spine, movement, and the way the body functions.
What started as one unusual encounter soon became something much bigger.
The Beginning of a New Profession
After that first adjustment, Palmer continued exploring spinal function and refining his hands-on approach.
Just two years later, in 1897, he opened the first chiropractic school in Davenport. From there, chiropractic continued to grow and develop into a healthcare profession practiced throughout the United States and around the world.
Even the word “chiropractic” reflects the profession’s roots. It comes from Greek words meaning “done by hand,” which still fits the heart of chiropractic care today.
Of course, chiropractic in 2026 looks very different than it did in 1895.
There were no MRIs, digital X-rays, advanced biomechanics labs, or modern rehabilitation tools back then. Over the last 130-plus years, research, education, technology, and clinical training have continued to evolve.
Today, chiropractors commonly care for people dealing with back and neck pain, headaches, joint stiffness, mobility limitations, posture concerns, activity-related strain, and other musculoskeletal issues. Many patients also choose chiropractic care as part of a more proactive approach to staying mobile, active, and feeling their best.
Chiropractic Has Changed, But the Goal Is Still Familiar
One of the most interesting parts of chiropractic history is how much has changed while some of the basic ideas have stayed the same.
People still want to understand what is causing their discomfort instead of simply ignoring it.
They still want to move well, stay active, recover well, and keep doing the things they love.
And they still appreciate care that looks at the person as a whole rather than treating every patient exactly the same.
Modern chiropractic may include spinal adjustments, posture and movement assessments, rehabilitation exercises, soft-tissue work, lifestyle guidance, and other tools depending on the individual and their needs.
The care has become more advanced, but the focus is still personal.
FOSTERing WELLNESS Became Part of the Story in 1987
By the time FOSTERing WELLNESS opened in 1987, chiropractic had already been around for more than 90 years.
Since then, we’ve had the privilege of becoming part of that history right here in Vermont.
For nearly four decades, we have cared for families through many different seasons of life. We’ve seen children grow up, cared for parents and grandparents, worked with athletes and busy professionals, and helped people who simply want to keep moving comfortably and doing the things they enjoy.
Some of the families we care for have been with us for generations, and that means a lot to us.
The technology has changed. The research has grown. Our tools have improved.
But the way we want people to feel when they walk through our doors hasn’t changed much at all.
We want people to feel listened to.
We want them to understand their care.
We want them to feel comfortable asking questions.
And most of all, we want them to know they’re being cared for like family.
That has been part of FOSTERing WELLNESS since 1987.
Why Chiropractic History Still Matters
Chiropractic History Month gives us a chance to look back, but it also reminds us how much healthcare continues to grow.
The first chiropractic adjustment happened because someone asked a question and was willing to look at a problem differently.
More than 130 years later, chiropractors are still learning, researching, and adapting as our understanding of movement, pain, recovery, and overall wellness continues to improve.
For our team, that history is meaningful because it reminds us that every generation builds on the one before it.
From that first adjustment in Davenport in 1895, to FOSTERing WELLNESS opening in Vermont in 1987, to the families we care for today in Rutland, Brandon, Randolph, and Springfield, the story continues.
And we’re grateful to be part of it.
Feel better. Move freely. Live fully.
If you’re ready to take a more proactive approach to your health and movement, schedule a visit with your nearest FOSTERing WELLNESS location.
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