I have been trying, for the past month, to find an appropriate way to start posting on the subject of cavitation. The problem (if we can assume that there was one) was not the need for an adequate development of the subject, rather than the need to go further back, to the root of manipulation.
Through extensive deliberation (with myself) and productive consulting (by a higher power), I came to realize that in order to delve into the essentials of manipulation, such as joint release, joint gapping, cavitation and pain relief, I had first to understand manipulation. To, perhaps, try to define manipulation. And yet, in order to do all that, I felt the need to track the origins of manipulation back in time.
Searching through the existing literature, I’ve read countless times that spinal manipulation or manipulation in general, is a millennia old treatment approach (Evans D.W., 2010; Bolton et al., 2007). But what that exactly means?
Reports of spinal manipulation can be traced, on ancient Kung-Fu texts in China, as far back as 2700 BC (Homola, 1999). Also, there appears to be a deeper connection of massage techniques and manipulation treatment, as it can be seen on Chinese medical texts, written 2000 years ago (Halderman, 1992).
Historical evidence show, through the writings of the ancient Greek physician, Hippocrates, also known as “The Father of Medicine”, that manipulation techniques were interestingly rife in the classical antiquity. In his works, On Articulations and On Fractures, he described with precise anatomic accuracy the human skeleton and the human spine. Although he never uses words and terminology that are excessively adapted by modern era manipulation therapists, he describes ways and procedures of treating articular dislocations as well as correcting spinal deformations, such as scoliosis.
Hippocrates’ ideas were adapted by the Roman Galen and were frequently practiced in Rome. During the Byzantine Era, they spread into the Middle East and they appeared into an Arabic medical manuscript in Baghdad (Halderman, 1992). At the end of the Middle Ages, this manuscript was translated back in Latin and was re-imported in Europe, leading in the formation of the so-called Bonesetters (Swedlo, 2002).
Modern age scholars (Homola, 2000), report evidence of manipulation techniques all around the world, in every spectrum of recorded time, among every culture developed by mankind. There are scrolls in ancient Egypt describing methods of treating fractures, dislocations, and injuries resulting from falls or blows. Evidence can be found, as well, in ancient Mesopotamia and India. Homola also writes that the Spanish conquistador Hernando Cortez, in his own diaries, when he invaded Mexico, reported about Aztec doctors who were “concerting the bones” or manipulating the joints, as an essential requirement of the more qualified doctor’s duties. Reports also exist regarding the native American Indian tribes.
Therefore, we can conclude that manipulation accompanies mankind through its entire recorded and (presumably) unrecorded history. But does this fact make any true difference in our practice today? Can we, as health and manual therapy practitioners, significantly benefit from this knowledge?
Maybe in terms of manipulation techniques we already have the theoretical and empirical knowledge to surpass our predecessors. However, my belief is that we can benefit greatly from the ancients, regarding their philosophical attitude towards the human body as a whole. After all, it was the ancient Greek Thales who first quoted “Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body”.
There are, in my opinion, countless hints and ideas in the ancient texts about the ancient ways of treating and reasoning. These writings demonstrate a psychosomatic and psychosocial approach that we must study again. If we can learn, adapt and merge this approach in our every-day practice, then we can have a stronger therapist-patient relationship which will inevitably lead in a better clinical result, never before anticipated or achieved. Thus, we can have an updated understanding of our clinical knowledge through healthy recollection and productive retrospection.
References:
Bolton A, Moran RW, Standen C. An investigation into the side of joint cavitation associated with cervical spine manipulation. International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine 2007; 10: 88-96.
Evans DW. Why do spinal manipulation techniques take the form they do? Towards a general model of spinal manipulation. Manual Therapy 2010; 15: 212-219.
Halderman S. Principles and Practice of Chiropractic. Norwalk, CT: Appleton and Lange; 1992.
Homola S. Inside Chiropractic. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books; 1999.
Homola S. Bonesetting, Chiropractic and Cultism 2000; In: http://www.chirobase.org
Swedlo DC. The proceedings of the 11th Annual History of Medicine Days. Calgary: The University of Calgary; 2002. p. 55-58 [session 3].
Pictures:
Figure 1. Neck Manipulation in China. Brown H. History of Manipulation 2010; In: http://www.drhalbrown.com
Figure 2. Hippocrates method for reduction of a shoulder dislocation. Stanley VP. Past, Present and Future of Joint Manipulation. University of St. Augustine 2012
Figure 3. Neck treatment by Hippocrates. History of Chiropractic 2013; In: http://www.dreamwellness.com
Figure 4. Arabic adaptation of Hippocrates’ Bench. Brown H. History of Manipulation 2010; In: http://www.drhalbrown.com
Figure 5. Manipulation in Egypt. Brown H. History of Manipulation 2010; In: http://www.drhalbrown.com
Figure 6. Temple Statue of Traditional Manipulation in Thailand. Brown H. History of Manipulation 2010; In: http://www.drhalbrown.com
Vasilis Georgopoulos 
I agree that in history is hidden the key to a better knowledge of nowadays’ science. An excellent and very interesting article. Keep up the good work author!
Interesting history and pictures.