| Abstract/Notes |
Objectives: To clarify misconceptions surrounding the writings of DD Palmer, BJ Palmer, and Ralph Stephenson concerning patient’s symptoms and to describe the importance of understanding the patient's presentation in chiropractic care. Discussion: The founders of the chiropractic wrote extensively about the need to understand the patient's symptomatic presentation. From this information the chiropractor understands the patient has lost the ability to properly adapt to the internal and external environment. The philosophical basis of chiropractic is that the body is self- regulating and self-maintaining, directed by a vitalistic force called Innate Intelligence. Lack of ability to adapt to the internal and external environment results in dysfunction. Therefore, if a person demonstrates physical signs and symptoms, it is due to lack of ability of Innate Intelligence to maintain the body in health. The founders of the profession believed that a patient's symptomology is an important indicator of the need for chiropractic care, though not the focus of that care.
Conclusion: To function in the present day health care world, it is essential for the doctor of chiropractic to understand the status of his patient’s health, how it relates to the care he renders, and just what care he is rendering. The chiropractic model of health acknowledges the importance of understanding a patient’s symptoms. What makes chiropractic unique is the meaning ascribed to the patient's symptomology, essentially, that the patient has lost the ability to self regulate body physiology. This abstract is reproduced with the permission of the publisher. Click on the above link for full text.
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