What is Chiropractic?
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 call this the Vertebral Subluxation Complex. Vertebral, meaning the bones of the spine. Subluxation, meaning less than a total dislocation. And Complex, meaning consisting of more than one part.
Chiropractic is the science of locating offending spinal structures, the art of reducing their impact to the nervous system, and the philosophy of all things natural.
How Does Chiropractic Work?
Chiropractic works by restoring your own inborn ability to be healthy. When under the proper control of your nervous system, all the cells, tissues, and organs of your body are designed to resist disease and ill health. The chiropractic approach to better health is to locate and help remove interferences to your natural state of being healthy.
A common interference to the nervous system is the 24 moving bones of the spinal column. A loss of normal motion or position of these bones can irritate or impair the function of the nervous system. This can disrupt the transmission of controlling nerve impulses.
With improved spinal function there is often improved nervous system function. Your chiropractor can help remove interferences that may be impairing normal health/life expression.
Since the primary focus of your care is improved nervous system function, chiropractic can have a positive effect on many health conditions not normally thought of as "back" problems.
What Type of Education Do Chiropractic Doctors Get?
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 reduce the resulting nervous system dysfunction.
To graduate with a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, each candidate passes the demanding National Board Examination. Then, doctors apply to a governmental or professional licensing board and pass a still more difficult test before being granted the privilege to practice.
A chiropractic education never ends. Most doctors complete postgraduate instruction for license renewal and to stay current on the latest scientific research.
What is an Adjustment?
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 thereby, affecting the function of the nerve system. This 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/life expression.
There are many 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 and constant pressure.
After years of training and clinical experience, each chiropractic doctor becomes highly skilled in the delivery of a variety of adjusting approaches.
Are all Practice Members Adjusted the Same Way?
The doctor evaluates each practice member's unique spinal biomechanics and develops an individual course of care. The resulting recommendations are based upon years of training and experience.
Practice members notice that their chiropractic care is delivered with confidence and precision. Each visit builds on the one before. And while visits may seem similar, each practice member's care is uniquely different from every other practice member.
What Can I Expect After an Adjustment?
What you can expect from your adjustment is a feeling of peace and relaxation that can last from a day to a week. Practice members often comment that they experience a better night's sleep and increased energy.
Some practice members may feel discomfort after their first adjustment, ranging from a headache to just general fatigue. In almost every case, this feeling goes away within the next couple adjustments.
This discomfort is often due to a detoxification of the body after adjustments. As poisons leave the system, they could create a headache or slight head cold, even a slight fever and a feeling of lethargy.
These symptoms of detoxification generally last no more than a day or two, and then you should see steady improvement.
Can I Speed the Healing Process?
There are many ways to help your body heal from within and become more balanced.
Learn proper sitting and lifting methods. Specific exercises may be suggested to help retrain the muscles that support the spine.
Proper rest is an important aspect of the healing process, too. Get the appropriate amount of rest your body needs and avoid sleeping on your stomach.
Proper nutrition is always important. Sticking to foods that are in their most natural state are always better than those that have been processed, bleached, canned, or frozen. When grocery shopping check out the organic section. Depending on where you shop the prices are sometimes lower for organic. Paying more for your organic meats and produce may not be as bothersome when you realize the benefits provided are enormous.
Perhaps most important of all, keep your appointments and follow your chiropractor's recommendations for optimum results.
Why do Children Need Chiropractic Care?
Since significant spinal trauma can occur at birth, many parents have their newborns checked for the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
Later, learning to walk, ride a bicycle, poor nutrition, and other childhood activities can cause problems. While a bandage and some comforting words can help a skinned knee, the unseen damage to the child's spine and nerve system is the unique domain of a chiropractor.
Many childhood health complaints that are brushed off as "growing pains" can often be traced to the spine. Regular chiropractic checkups can identify these problems and help avoid many of the health complaints seen later in adults.
Naturally, chiropractic adjusting procedures are modified to a child's spine. Most parents report that their children enjoy their chiropractic adjustments and seem healthier than other children.
Am I Too Old for Chiropractic Care?
No way! Yes, it is ideal to be checked at birth, but it's never too late. More and more people are consulting chiropractors, especially in their later years.
Restoring nerve system function can help improve mobility, vitality, endurance, and appetite. Many practice members report improvement with arthritic symptoms and other chronic ailments often associated with the aging process.
The adjusting technique used by your doctor will be modified for maximum comfort and results.
As we get older and wiser, the simplicity and effectiveness of chiropractic care becomes more and more obvious.
How Long will I Need Chiropractic Care?
How long you decide to benefit from chiropractic care is always up to you. Our office is committed to the education of our practice members. We hope that we have educated you well enough for you to understand that regular care is the best choice.
