What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic: from the Greek chiro-“hand-” + praktikos “concerned with action”

Chiropractic has become the largest drug-less health care profession in the world because it has helped millions of people recover from pain and disability and minimize the use of drugs and surgery in their lives!

What a Chiropractor Does

Today’s doctor of chiropractic examines, diagnoses, and treats complaints of the neuromusculoskeletal system. This could range from neck or back pain to ankle pain or headaches. Their main goal is to locate muscles and joints that are not moving properly and restoring proper movement to decrease pain. 

Chiropractic and the Nervous System

Billions of nerve fibers are bundled inside your spinal cord, an extension of your brain, which passes through your spinal column. Nerves branch off from your spinal cord through openings between the vertebrae to connect you to the world. Without them you couldn’t see, hear, touch, taste, smell, feel hot, cold, pleasure or pain.

Nerves Keep You Alive and Healthy

Nerve messages also help regulate your body’s activities such as breathing, heartbeats, digestion, excretion, changes in temperature, and all kinds of stress. If your nerves are “pinched” or interfered with, the flow of messages over them can be disrupted and your body can be affected. When these nerves become irritated, you may start to experience pain, “pins and needles”, burning, numbness, and even muscle weakness.

How Do Nerves Get Impinged or Pinched

Your skeletal system, especially your spinal column protects your spinal cord and other nerves. If your spine is not moving properly it may “pinch” or stretch the nerves they are supposed to protect. Nerves can also become entrapped as they pass through muscles that can become tight and sore from overuse or poor posture. 

What is causing my pain?

In life, there are many things we do repetitively. Whether it’s work, sports, or relaxing at home. We are designed to be moving in a variety of different ways, yet many of us do not move as much as we should be. When we don’t use certain muscles and our joints stay in one position for extended periods of time, adhesions form. Adhesions are like scar tissue and can cause the joints and muscles to become “stuck”. Once the joints are “stuck”, muscles must work harder and become sore. Spinal degeneration begins and inflammation starts to build up, thus causing pain. This can lead to injuries such as herniated discs or sprains and strains. How can this be fixed though??

The Chiropractic Adjustment

A chiropractic adjustment is a very quick, controlled and specific force applied to a joint that is not moving properly. Chiropractors are trained to locate and restore joint movement by using these adjustments. During the adjustments, you may hear a “pop”, but don’t be worried because that’s just gas being released from the joint. Generally, patients will feel some relief after the first adjustment!

Rehabilitative Exercise and Stretching

As the pain decreases with Chiropractic adjustments, patients will be instructed on how to perform exercises and stretches that will help to decrease pain and restore proper movement and posture. They can be performed at work or at home to prevent pain from occurring as frequently.