Celebrating National Chiropractic Awareness Week

To mark National Chiropractic Awareness Week at the end of this month, we’ve rounded up 10 fascinating (and fun!) facts about chiropractic care - and a few about Charles himself.

Whether you’re a regular on the treatment table or just curious about what chiropractors actually do, there’s something in here for you. And yes, number 10 might just leave you laughing...

1. “Chiropractic” literally means “done by hand.”

The word comes from the Greek cheir (hand) and praktikos (doing or action). It perfectly sums up the hands-on approach at the heart of chiropractic care.

2. Chiropractic began in 1895 - but the idea is ancient.

It all started when Daniel David Palmer gave the first chiropractic adjustment to Harvey Lillard, a janitor who had partially lost his hearing. But manipulating joints to improve health isn’t new -ancient Egyptian medical texts from 1552 BC mention treating bone injuries.

3. It once sparked rivalries (and even jail time).

Palmer’s philosophy was similar to osteopathy, seeing the body as a machine that could be “tuned” without drugs. In the early 1900s, that overlap led to tensions - Palmer was even jailed in 1906 for “practicing osteopathy without a license”! Thankfully, things are much friendlier between the professions these days.

4. That cracking sound isn’t what you think.

It’s not bones breaking - it’s called cavitation, caused by gas being released from joints. Totally safe and totally normal (and yes, a little satisfying). There are even videos on YouTube with more than a million views where you can listen to cavitation for a whole hour!

5. Becoming a chiropractor takes years of study.

In the UK, chiropractors are regulated by the General Chiropractic Council and must complete a five year degree. The course covers a wide range of subjects from anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, radiology, radiography to body mechanics and psychology.

6. Chiropractors do more than just spinal adjustments.

They also use manual therapy, tailored exercises, and lifestyle advice to help restore and maintain musculoskeletal health. Chiropractors often work alongside GPs and specialists, and can refer patients for scans, X-rays, or strength programs when needed.

7. Charles’s specialty is SOT (Sacro Occipital Technique).

SOT was developed by Major DeJarnette - both a chiropractor and an osteopath - in the1920s (just in time to help all those who’d been dancing the Charleston a little too exuberantly!). He was inspired to go beyond simple spinal adjusting and developed methods of correcting the cranium, pelvis, extremities, and organs.

8. SOT uses “indicators”.

What sets SOT apart is the use of subtle body signals that tell the chiropractor what needs adjusting - like muscle tension in the knee pointing to an issue in the pelvis. These indicators also help track progress, all without the need for imaging.

9. Charles’s been at this a while.

Charles Robottom has been practicing since 1990 -that’s over a third of the time the British Chiropractic Association has existed! He worked in London and then returned to Jersey and launched Orchard Chiropractic in 1999, right at the height of Y2K fears - thankfully, the millennium bug did not result in the chaos once imagined on The Simpsons. Most recently, he returned from a refresher on advanced SOT cranial techniques. Still learning, always curious.

10. The Christmas lunch that no one forgot.

Charles once adjusted his father-in-law’s two boxer dogs, Tipsy and Whisky, on Christmas Day ... and let’s just say it really got their bowels moving. It may have disrupted lunch, but it hasn’t stopped him from regularly adjusting his cats. Want to see it for yourself? Head over to our Instagram page!

Got questions about chiropractic or SOT?  We’d love to hear from you. Pop in, give us a call, or drop us a message - we’re here to help you feel your best, head to toe.