chiropractic care pink-leaf

what is chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health.  Chiropractic care is used most often to help relieve discomfort, including but not limited to back pain, sciatic pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches. However, the purpose of chiropractic is to find and reduce stress and interference to the nervous system, allowing the person to experience greater function and an overall improved quality of life.

what do doctors of chiropractic do?

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 also trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as well as to provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling.

what is a chiropractic adjustment?

The most common therapeutic procedure performed by doctors of chiropractic is known as “spinal manipulation,” also called “chiropractic adjustment.”   The purpose of an adjustment is to restore joint mobility by manually applying a gentle, controlled force into joints that have become hypomobile or restricted in their movement. This restriction is called a “subluxation.” Subluxations are misalignments of the spine that put pressure on the nerves, and are often painless! Our nerves carry messages from our brain to every cell in our body, which is why chiropractic adjustments are so important. Relieving the pressure on our nerves, allows the body to function at its BEST!

what causes a subluxation?

Subluxations can be caused by a single traumatic event, such as birth, a fall or improper lifting of a heavy object, as well as through repetitive stresses, such as sitting all day with poor spinal posture for an extended period of time, pregnancy or sleeping in a poor position for days. Chiropractic adjustments of the affected joint and tissues, restores mobility, thereby alleviating pain and muscle tightness, increasing range of motion and allowing tissues to heal.

References:

  1. American Chiropractic Association
  2. ICPA; International Chiropractic Pediatric Association