Chiropractic is based on the scientific fact that your body is a self-regulating, self-healing organism. These important functions are controlled by the brain, spinal cord, and all the nerves of the body.The skull protects the delicate tissues of the brain. The moving bones of the spine protect the vulnerable communication pathways of the spinal cord and nerve roots. If the nervous system is impaired, it can cause malfunction of the tissues and organs throughout the body. Doctors of Chiropractic call this the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
The Chiropractic adjustment has been proven to increase motion, increase circulation, reduce swelling and pain, and remove nervous irritation. Once this nervous irritation is removed, your body is able to do what it is designed to do – heal itself.
Chiropractic is the Science, Art and Philosophy that concerns itself with the restoration of good health by restoring and maintaining a properly functioning nervous system, without the use of drugs or surgery.
Chiropractors restore proper motion to joints that are not moving properly. Helping to restore proper spinal biomechanics and improved nervous system function begins with a case history. Your case history is vital as it reveals the background about your health, such as surgeries, accidents, the onset of your condition, and other details which brought you into the office.After reviewing your history and discussing your specific problem, a thorough orthopaedic, neurological, and chiropractic examination is performed. X-ray may be taken which will help uncover structural and functional problems.
Today’s Doctor of Chiropractic is well educated. The science of chiropractic requires a special emphasis on anatomy, physiology, pathology, neurology, biomechanics, X-ray, spinal adjusting techniques and related subjects. This demanding curriculum prepares chiropractic doctors to locate the Vertebral Subluxation Complex and help correct the resulting nervous system dysfunction.
Chiropractic students must complete a 5 year Master of Chiropractic degree. The early years cover the extensive theoretical knowledge needed for clinical practice. This then progresses to clinical skills, diagnostics, more in-depth neuroanatomy and functional neurology in addition to many different chiropractic treatment techniques. The final 2 years involve working with world renowned doctors of chiropractic with many years of clinical and teaching experience as well as ward rounds in two of the local hospitals. This is combined with further refinement of clinical skills and techniques in addition to building and cementing knowledge from previous years. Following graduation a further year of postgraduate education is undertaken to receive the title of Doctor of Chiropractic.
A chiropractic education never ends. Doctors of Chiropractic are required to complete a minimum of 30 hours of further education and postgraduate courses per year. In reality most chiropractors complete many more hours than this to stay up to date with the latest research.
A chiropractic adjustment is the art of using a specific force in a precise direction, applied to a joint that is fixated, ‘locked up,’ or not moving properly. An adjustment adds motion to the joint, helping the bones gradually return to a more normal position and motion. The purpose of this safe and natural procedure is improved spinal function, improved nervous system function, and improved health.
There are hundreds of ways to adjust the spine. Usually the doctor’s hands or a specially designed instrument delivers a brief and highly accurate thrust. Some adjusting methods are quick, whereas others require a slow constant pressure.
No, each patient is adjusted according to their unique requirements. Your chiropractor will determine the best way to adjust your spine after completing a detailed examination.
Many chiropractors will adjust your entire spine, even though you don’t have pain in that area. Pain is a poor indicator of problems as many problems refer pain into other areas. Some patients who complain of headaches may actually have a lower back problem that is causing a compensation reaction at the base of the skull. Other patients may be experiencing numbness and tingling in their fingers when the actual problem is in the neck.
While visits may seem similar, each visit builds on the one before.
Chiropractic care is customized to each patient’s age, condition, and spinal problem.
Since a chiropractic adjustment is a specific force, applied in a specific direction, to a specific joint, it is impossible to adjust oneself; and also dangerous. Spinal adjusting may look easy when done by an experienced chiropractor, but it has taken many years to master – just as a gymnast makes walking on a balance beam easy.
Turning and twisting your back and neck may create a ‘popping’ sound, however this usually causes an unstable area of the spine even more unsteady. Remember the goal of the adjustment is to get joints moving that are not moving normally, twisting your back will cause the unstable part of the spine to become even more unstable. Spinal adjusting is not for amateurs!
The best way to enjoy the healthful benefits of chiropractic is to receive adjustments from a Doctor of Chiropractic. Even your doctor must seek out the services of another colleague to help restore and maintain proper spinal function.
