Expert Chiropractic Care
What Is Chiropractic
Chiropractic is a comprehensive way of understanding the human body, based on the principle that it is self-sustaining and self-healing. The body is primarily controlled by the brain through its connection with the spinal cord and the extensive network of nerves throughout the system. When this communication pathway is not functioning optimally, overall health and performance can be affected.
A Focus Beyond Medication
Within chiropractic care, drugs and medications are not used as the primary method of treatment. While nutrition and supplementation may support overall health, pharmaceuticals are often viewed as temporary solutions that address symptoms rather than correcting the underlying cause of dysfunction. The focus remains on identifying and treating the root of the problem.
Beyond Back and Neck Pain
Chiropractic care extends far beyond the common perception of treating back and neck pain. While it is highly effective for conditions such as sciatica and joint pain, it is also utilized in managing a wide range of health concerns, including fibromyalgia, allergies, insomnia, headaches, and more.
Early Foundations of Chiropractic History
Did you know that chiropractic dates back to the time of Hippocrates? He believed that if the spine was misaligned, it greatly contributed to the health of an individual. The modern-day school of chiropractic dates back to 1895, when Dr. Daniel Palmer adjusted a man who had lost his hearing 17 years prior. The story goes that prior to losing his hearing, the man had heard something pop in his back. Upon the adjustment of the man's misaligned vertebrae, his hearing greatly improved.
While the medical community criticized this new technique for healing the body, the people who followed in these footsteps found an amazing new way of dealing with illness and disease. Dr. Palmer's theories are still discussed in the chiropractic industry today. Without this man's input into medicine in a time when he was greatly discredited, the millions of people today who enjoy the life-changing benefits may never have had this opportunity. There is still a school named after Dr. Daniel Palmer, as well as over 20 schools and thousands of chiropractic students across the country.
How Chiropractic Works
Chiropractic is based on the idea of removing imbalances, both structural and postural, in order to allow the body to heal itself. For this to occur, the network of nerves and signals from the brain, down the spinal cord, and throughout the nervous system must be able to flow freely without interruption. Chiropractors are trained to identify and correct these misalignments, helping the body function as it was designed to.
If you’ve ever been in a car accident, played a sport, fallen, or bumped into something too hard, it is possible that you are not functioning at your best due to a misalignment. While structural causes are common, chemical factors can also contribute. Smoking, excessive alcohol use, or a poor diet can create internal imbalances that may lead to underlying conditions and disease over time. Chiropractic care aims to restore balance both structurally and chemically, helping the body return to its optimal state so it can perform at its peak.
What Is a Subluxation
When a vertebra becomes misaligned or moves out of its normal position, this is referred to in the chiropractic profession as a subluxation. Subluxations can result from a wide range of causes, from a minor slip or bump to a car accident or other sudden trauma. When a vertebra is subluxated, it can place pressure on nerves, blood vessels, and surrounding structures. This pressure comes with a cost, as it interrupts the natural pathways for messages sent from the brain that must remain clear for proper function.
Effects of Untreated Subluxations Over Time
As time passes and a subluxation remains untreated, the spine and surrounding structures, such as the discs, can begin to degenerate. This degeneration becomes more difficult to reverse as muscles, nerves, and bones adapt to the altered alignment. The body is an adaptive system and will begin compensating in other areas to adjust to these changes. The longer this continues, the more complex and time-consuming it becomes to restore proper alignment and function.