What Exactly is Chiropractic?

 

Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on the main structures of the body, namely the bones, muscles and nerves – and their relationship to the proper functioning of the body.  There’s no mystery or unknown processes at work here. Chiropractic is based on the anatomy of the body.

The brain, spinal cord and nerves (together making up your Nervous System) control ALL the functions of ALL the tissues, systems and organs of the body. If anything interferes with the Nervous System then dysfunction, disease and symptoms can result. The most common interference to the nervous system is due to restriction in the bones/joints of the body, especially the spine. These restrictions are called subluxations.

The goals of Chiropractic are:

• To determine, through a thorough consultation and examination, if restrictions (subluxations) are present and if they are creating a negative effect on the nerves/nervous system and the proper functioning of the body.
• To restore proper joint motion, thus correcting any subluxations and nerve interference, by “adjustments” done to the restricted areas. There are many different techniques that can be utilized to do an adjustment but they are all accomplishing the same thing – trying to correct that abnormal motion.
• To ensure the proper functioning of the body, both in the short and long term, with supportive care and recommendations that may include:
  • A treatment schedule to reinforce the proper motion of the joints
  • Exercises/stretches
  • Dietary recommendations and/or nutritional supplementation
  • Postural and ergonomic advice
  • Massage
  • Other physiotherapy treatments such as ultrasound or hot/cold packs

Although chiropractic patients often seek care for pain and other symptoms, chiropractic focuses on the underlying source of the problem and restoring the body’s ability to function as it should. This approach typically results in a decrease or alleviation of symptoms.

The benefits of Chiropractic include:

• Improved quality of healthcare by addressing the person from a holistic standpoint, not just a number of different “parts”
• Improved health and vitality
• Improved function without the side effects of medications
• Identifying and correcting the structural cause of the problem, not just masking the symptoms
• Decreased overall healthcare costs

This is a simplified chart showing the connection between nerves and the areas they supply/function.  There are usually multiple nerves going to a specific area of the body.