How old is the specialty of spinal care and how has it changed?

Care of the spine is developing rapidly over the years, but it was only as recent as the early 1900s that it was learned there were actual disorders of the spine that differed from one another.

Using this biological module, physicians were able to put a name to the issue and offer treatments. This is also when physicians knew that they could identify certain issues and ascribe them to certain groups of patients.

Before the discovery of disc protrusion in an autopsy in 1841, there were no clear cut ideas of how the back could be injured. This discovery sparked others and the idea of diagnosing spinal disorders grew. This idea that there was a biological, proven reason for a back injury was fell into what was called the Biological Model.

That being said, it was only in the 1980s that researchers realized that they could no longer use a “one size fits all” approach to spinal care and that people were affected by many outside sources. This led to the Biopsychosocial Mode of care.

Of course, as technology grows, doctors are able to find more specific reasons for back pain and disorders, so the field shows signs of continuing to grow.