Chiropractic is a health care practice that emphasizes two main points. The first is the inborn power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs or surgeries. The second focuses on the ability of the body to self-regulate. The practice of chiropractic focuses on the relationship between the structure of the spine and the function of the nervous system, and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of your health.
Doctors of Chiropractic practice a drug-free, hands-on approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis, and treatment. Chiropractors have broad diagnostic skills and are trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as well as provide nutritional, dietary, and lifestyle counseling.
Goals of Chiropractic Care
Since chiropractic treatments are primarily applied to the spinal area, many assume that chiropractors only treat back and neck ailments. While we do quickly and effectively eliminate back and neck pain, this is not the main goal of a chiropractic treatment. The objective is to restore and make the best out of human health.
How Chiropractic Care Works
You might be asking yourself, “How can the same chiropractic treatment that treats my back pain also better my health?” The answer is simple… kind of.
As you already know, the nervous system is the master controller of all living cells, tissues, and organs, and makes sure all cells are functioning together. The spinal cord encases the nervous system and is responsible for its protection. Because of this close relationship, biochemical and structural problems in the spinal column can irritate parts of the enclosed nervous system. The functioning of the nervous system is negatively influenced, as are the functioning cells, tissues, and organs, which are all supplied by the affected nerves.
In short, because the body’s innate healing powers are affected by and integrated through the nervous system, correcting spinal column abnormalities can lead to a number of favorable results in patients suffering from various health conditions.
What Do Chiropractors Do?
Chiropractors are mainly concerned with locating and treating vertebral subluxations (i.e. irritations to the function of a nerve). Using a number of unique and highly refined skills, the chiropractor checks the patient’s spine for any misalignments, fixations, or other abnormalities. If anything is detected, the chiropractor will generally apply a gentle force in a corrective manner to the affected spinal area. In additions to spinal adjustment techniques, soft tissue techniques such as massage, dietary, and nutritional counseling, and lifestyle modification programs are commonly employed.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care
Short-term and regular chiropractic care has a number of benefits including (but not limited to):
- Spinal and Extremity Relief
- Headache Relief
- Increased Mobility and Range of Motion
- Decreased Stiffness and Muscular Spasms
- Arthritic Joint Pain Relief
- Increased Joint Health
- Increased Balance and Coordination
- Reduced Degeneration and Risk of Injury
- Enhanced Tissue Healing
- Decreased Tissue Inflammation
- Increased Performance and Energy
- Increased Sense of WellBeing and Relaxation
- Reduction of Stress and Better Coping Abilities
- Better Concentration