Chiropractic

Chiropractic

Chiropractic is a form of alternative medicine mostly concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, especially the spine.[1][2] Some proponents, especially those in the field’s early history, have claimed that such disorders affect general health via the nervous system,[2] through vertebral subluxation, claims which are not based on scientific evidence. The main chiropractic treatment technique involves manual therapy, especially spinal manipulation therapy (SMT), manipulations of other joints and soft tissues.[3] Its foundation is at odds with mainstream medicine, and chiropractic is sustained by pseudoscientific ideas such as subluxation and “innate intelligence” that reject science.[4][5][6][7][8] Chiropractors are not medical doctors.[9]

Numerous controlled clinical studies of treatments used by chiropractors have been conducted, with conflicting results.[4] Systematic reviews of this research have not found evidence that chiropractic manipulation is effective, with the possible exception of treatment for back pain.[4] A critical evaluation found that collectively, spinal manipulation was ineffective at treating any condition.[10] Spinal manipulation may be cost-effective for sub-acute or chronic low back pain but the results for acute low back pain were insufficient.[11] The efficacy and cost-effectiveness of maintenance chiropractic care are unknown.[12] There is not sufficient data to establish the safety of chiropractic manipulations.[13] It is frequently associated with mild to moderate adverse effects, with serious or fatal complications in rare cases.[14] There is controversy regarding the degree of risk of vertebral artery dissection, which can lead to stroke and death, from cervical manipulation.[15] Several deaths have been associated with this technique[14] and it has been suggested that the relationship is causative,[16][17] a claim which is disputed by many chiropractors.[17]

Chiropractic is well established in the United States, Canada, and Australia.[18] It overlaps with other manual-therapy professions such as osteopathy and physical therapy.[19] Most who seek chiropractic care do so for low back pain.[20] Back and neck pain are considered the specialties of chiropractic, but many chiropractors treat ailments other than musculoskeletal issues.[4] Many chiropractors describe themselves as primary careproviders,[4][21] but the chiropractic clinical training does not support the requirements to be considered primary care providers,[2] so their role on primary care is limited and disputed.[2][21] Chiropractic has two main groups: “straights”, now the minority, emphasize vitalism, “innate intelligence”, and consider vertebral subluxations to be the cause of all disease; “mixers”, the majority, are more open to mainstream views and conventional medical techniques, such as exercise, massage, and ice therapy.[22]

D. D. Palmer founded chiropractic in the 1890s,[23] after saying he received it from “the other world”,[24] and his son B. J. Palmer helped to expand it in the early 20th century.[23] Throughout its history, chiropractic has been controversial.[25][26] Despite the overwhelming evidence that vaccination is an effective public health intervention, among chiropractors there are significant disagreements over the subject,[27] which has led to negative impacts on both public vaccination and mainstream acceptance of chiropractic.[28] The American Medical Association called chiropractic an “unscientific cult” in 1966[29] and boycotted it until losing an antitrust case in 1987.[21] Chiropractic has had a strong political base and sustained demand for services; in recent decades, it has gained more legitimacy and greater acceptance among conventional physicians and health plans in the United States.[21]

Homeacre-Lyndora

 

Homeacre-Lyndora is a census-designated place (CDP) in Butler CountyPennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,906 at the 2010 census.[1]

Lyndora was linked to ButlerEvans City and Pittsburgh in 1908 by the Pittsburgh, Harmony, Butler and New Castle Railway, an interurban trolley line. The line closed on 15 June 1931, and the trolleys were replaced by buses.

Homeacre-Lyndora occupies a broad portion of central and northern Butler Township, north and west of the city of Butler. The U.S. Census Bureau locates the CDP at 40°52′10″N 79°55′14″W (40.869461, -79.920460),[2] but it consists of several developed areas separated by forested valleys. The Homeacre portion of the CDP is located on high ground west of Butler, while Lyndora is directly adjacent to Butler in the southeast corner of the CDP, in the valley of Connoquenessing Creek. The CDP is bordered by Meridian on the west and by Shanor-Northview in Center Township on the north.

U.S. Route 422, the Benjamin Franklin Highway, passes through the CDP, leading east 22 miles (35 km) to Kittanning and west 25 miles (40 km) to New CastlePennsylvania Route 356, New Castle Road, follows the old routing of US-422, leading east into downtown Butler, and joining 422 in the northwest corner of the CDP. Pennsylvania Route 68 joins PA 356 in the Homeacre part of the CDP, leading east into Butler but traveling west to ConnoquenessingEvans City, and ZelienoplePennsylvania Route 8 passes through the eastern part of the CDP, interchanging with US 422 and leading south into downtown Butler and north to Harrisville and Franklin.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 6.6 square miles (17.2 km2), all of it land.[1]