18 September 2026 marks 131 years since the episode chiropractic tradition treats as a founding moment. The account is not medical evidence.

Daniel David Palmer, known as D.D. Palmer, practised forms of alternative treatment in Davenport, Iowa. He reported applying a spinal manipulation to Harvey Lillard, a worker with hearing problems.

The version later promoted by Palmer says Lillard’s hearing improved. The claim was not documented by modern medical methods and does not show that spinal manipulation treats deafness.

Palmer developed a theory that displaced vertebrae disrupted nerves and caused many illnesses. Many broad claims of early chiropractic are not supported by current anatomy and evidence.

He opened a school in 1897. The profession later expanded, created training and regulation and passed through long conflict with conventional medicine.

Today, spinal manipulation is used mainly for some musculoskeletal problems, particularly low back pain. Research indicates small or moderate benefits for some people, comparable with other conservative interventions.

Manipulation can cause temporary pain or stiffness. Serious complications are rare, but procedures, especially involving the neck, require careful assessment and a qualified practitioner.

This article is not medical advice. The anniversary belongs to the history of manual therapies; the founding story must be separated from scientific evaluation of effectiveness and risk.

Image: BlueDevil / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Bust of D.D. Palmer at Palmer College of Chiropractic, Davenport. Commemorative monument, not from 1895. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: Spinal Manipulation: What You Need To Know | NCCIH; Chiropractic | Encyclopaedia Britannica.