What is Chiropractic ?
Definition: Chiropractic is a separate and distinct branch of the healing arts that utilizes the inherent recuperative powers of the body for the maintenance of health through the normal relationship between the spinal musculoskeletal structures and the nervous system. Chiropractic is the largest natural healing arts profession in the world.
What do Chiropractors Do?
They treat the spinal column to restore proper alignment, much like an orthodontist straightens teeth. However, there is one major difference. The spinal column houses a critical part of the body’s nervous system, the spinal cord, which is responsible for the transmission of signals to and from the brain. This free-flow of nerve impulses is necessary to allow the body to function properly (adapted from Dr. Fysh, DC).
What is subluxation?
Subluxation is a term you will often hear mentioned in the chiropractic profession. This term refers to a vertebra in the spine being out of alignment with the rest of the vertebra in the spine. It is locked or jammed in a position that is not its normal resting position. It is said to be subluxated. By definition it is not as severe as a dislocation. In a dislocation, the joint surfaces of two adjacent bones have become separated or pulled apart. In a subluxation the joint surfaces of adjacent bones are locked together in a position away from their normal resting position. These subluxations may affect nerve impulses going to and from the brain, either by increasing or decreasing the number of impulses. More common is their tendency to cause a local irritation of nerves, resulting in pain and muscle spasms in the area of the spine most affected by the subluxation.
How do subluxations occur?
When we are moving ourselves around through muscle action sometimes a muscle pulls a bone too far ahead or behind the adjacent ones and then gets stuck in that new position. Now its joint surfaces are pressing hard against the next one and causes undo friction. Sometimes this becomes irritating, or causes stiffness, or it actually causes traction on the connective tissue around it and eventually this becomes a nerve irritation, and may even become such a strong pressure on the nerve that it blocks its signals.
What happens if these are left untreated?
Little by little the surfaces become unevenly worn and begin to degenerate. The synovial membrane that wraps around inside lining the joint no longer is able to do its job as well and soon there is less lubrication to the joint. Now the insolating properties of these membranes don’t work as well and bone on bone wear and tear causes degenerative joint disease, or often called Osteoarthritis. After many years this may lead to permanent painful spinal deformities.
Is chiropractic safe for children?
Absolutely. See Pediatrics.
What is Holistic Chiropractic as we call it in our clinic?
Being a licensed Physical Therapist as well as a Dr. of Chiropractic, I have spent a long time trying to understand both the world conventional medicine, which includes physical therapy, and the natural healing art of chiropractic. There are now many studies that validate the science of chiropractic and we no longer need to use the old-timers arguments pro and con on this topic. We are in a time when one can clearly prove with research that chiropractic is the leading profession for the treatment of spine pain.
My interest has always been on the personal practice and research of what works, what makes patients well faster.
"There is no alternative medicine. There is only scientifically proven, evidence-based medicine supported by solid data or unproven medicine, for which scientific evidence is lacking. Whether a therapeutic practice is 'Eastern' or 'Western,' is unconventional or mainstream, or involves mind-body techniques or molecular genetics is largely irrelevant except for historical purposes and cultural interest. As believers in science and evidence, we must focus on fundamental issues - namely, the patient, the target disease or condition, the proposed or practiced treatment, and the need for convincing data on safety and therapeutic efficacy."
- George D. Lundberg, as quoted here
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Chiropractic
Facilitating self-healing
Chiropractic schools begin with the same basic science program as do medical schools, however in their clinical training chiropractors learn to diagnose and treat mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system by manual manipulation of the spine and extremities. The spinal column houses that critical part of the body’s nervous system, the spinal cord, which is responsible for the transmission of signals to and from the brain. Spinal joint dysfunction can interfere with the nervous system and result in a variety of painful conditions. Reducing pressure on nerves and surrounding tissue through gentle bone-aligning chiropractic techniques is usually a more conservative and effective approach to spine care than surgery or injections,.
When the spine is properly aligned, the nervous system can function optimally, and self-healing is accelerated.
“As a manual therapy specialist with nearly three decades experience, I understand the qualms that some medical professionals have about chiropractic. But my experience and the research I see reported in spine rehab journals reassure me that manipulation is singularly effective. In fact, I am sometimes surprised by its effectiveness, as when a non-resolving case, having resisted all the tools of physical therapy, is finally solved through a series of gentle chiropractic adjustments.”
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