What is Chiropractic?
When two or more vertebrae aren’t functioning together properly, it is what Chiropractors refer to as a subluxation, fixation, or a misalignment. These subluxations are actually joint dysfunctions that cause you to experience pain, discomfort, decreased mobility and many other symptoms and conditions. Joint dysfunctions often go unnoticed and can cause miscommunication between your brain and body. Joint dysfunctions in the spine may eventually lead to symptoms in other parts or joints of the body as well. These symptoms are your body’s only way of letting you know something is wrong. Unfortunately, the absence of pain is not an indication of health. By the time pain and symptoms appear the problem may have been present for months, even years. The great news is that you can help prevent these types of symptoms and conditions with routine chiropractic care.
Why Chiropractic Care?
The goal of chiropractic is to optimize health with a non-invasive approach that does not use drugs or surgery. Chiropractic’s primary avenue of care is restoring normal function through various types of adjustments.
The spine is a very complex structure with multiple joints at each spinal segment (the vertebrae that form the spinal column). Strength and flexibility is required for normal functioning of the spine. When these joints are not positioned or functioning normally, it can cause pressure on the nerves exiting the spine. Chiropractic adjustments reduce the irritation to these nerves. The word “chiropractic” comes from the Greek words cheir (hand) and praxis (action), and simply means “done by hand”.
Chiropractors are licensed primary care physicians who are trained to diagnose and appropriately care for or refer patients for the care they require.
Chiropractic patients often visit their chiropractor periodically in order to simply relieve irritations – to get “adjusted”. Individuals also seek chiropractic care for back pain, headaches, joint pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis and sprains.
What is the underlying philosophy?
The care of the spine and nervous system is the way to optimize the health of the whole human system, and not just a means to relieve back complaints.
A basic philosophy of chiropractic is that the body naturally seeks the proper balance. When this happens, the body can often times heal itself. A second basic principle is that proper structure is necessary for proper function. If the structure is impaired by injury, stress, or disease, its function can be adversely affected.
Therefore, chiropractic focuses on the integrity of the spine and its surrounding tissues as a means to enhance normal human function, health, and potential.