Chiropractic Care
What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is the science which concerns itself with the relationship between structure, primarily of the spine, and function, primarily of the nervous system. This relationship can affect the restoration and preservation of health.
Some of the methods used by Chiropractors are as old as mankind. There are cave paintings in France 5000 years old showing how to adjust the spine. Many cultures have rudimentary techniques for manipulating the spine. Today it is becoming well known that chiropractors are primary contact practitioners in their own right.
What does a chiropractor do?
Some people attending a chiropractor for the first time are a little apprehensive. Whatever fears you have, they are completely unfounded in the reality of chiropractic experience.
Chiropractors are the experts in the detection and elimination of subluxations (stiff spinal joints, 'bones out of place'), having made this type of healthcare their specialty for more than 120 years. They are the only physicians adequately trained in the art of spinal manipulation. Which the chiropractic profession calls 'an Adjustment'.
An Adjustment is a painless low force thrust to an area of the spine that is dysfunctional ie. Subluxated, 'stiff, locked up, stuck or jammed up’.
How does Chiropractic Work?
Chiropractic works by freeing up the spinal joints which have become 'stuck' compared to their normal movement. These joints are small and numerous and are hardly noticeable to most people when they are 'jammed up', although to the nervous system those stiff spinal joints or subluxations are a real problem. This is because when spinal joints are not operating properly the nervous system cannot receive the full amount of neurological information about what is happening inside our body.
All of our senses, (smell, taste, sight, hearing and touch) deliver huge amounts of information to our brain which constantly processes in real time while comparing to historical memory and simultaneously creating our reality.
All of this huge task is beyond our awareness and operating automatically even when we sleep our joints, ligaments and muscles all have sensors that feed the brain with information about our current posture, position and muscle tone. If there are jammed joints, spinal dysfunction or subluxations then the amount of data to the brain will be less and the brain has to make do based on memory. Sometimes it makes the wrong guess and we have an accident or make a poor decision. Therefore interference to the nervous system does not allow the realisation of the highest health potential.
By using skilful techniques, Chiropractors are able to quickly and efficiently re-establish the integrity of the nervous system by the removal of these subluxations. The small dysfunctional joints (subluxations) of the spine that require chiropractic adjustment are caused by a multitude of factors such as; poor posture, accidents, inadequate nutrition, worn out beds, badly designed car seats, lack of exercise, psychological tension and hereditary factors.
As you will realise, few people from the tiniest baby to the very old, are not under these stresses in today's busy world. This then emphasises the importance of a regular chiropractic checkup which will enable you to cope with the stresses acting to destroy your health. Just as your car needs a regular tune-up to keep it working efficiently so does your nervous system.
In visiting a chiropractors clinic you'll often find tiny children receiving care to ensure that the traumas of birth and childhood have not left any interference to the nervous system. Children respond rapidly to chiropractic care. Adjustments tend to remain functioning properly longer than in older people, especially those who wait late in life before making first contact with chiropractic.
What are the clicking noises that occur with spinal adjustments?
The clicking noise usually heard with an Adjustment is just incidental. It occurs because of the joint surfaces running over each other. This can be likened to rubbing two pieces of sandpaper against each other - they stick at first and then let go with a snap.
What conditions can chiropractic help?
Chiropractic has had its fame largely associated with the treatment of low back pain, neck and shoulder pain, sports injuries and headaches, etc. But this is not the full story today. Chiropractic has the potential to help your body heal itself in many conditions. The nervous system is connected to every part of the body and therefore many conditions can be helped by Chiropractic.
It is well known that Chiropractic has grown mainly through word-of-mouth. One happy patient passes on a recommendation to friends and studies have shown that chiropractic patients are the most satisfied of all health care consumers.
All this seems to point to the fact that the chiropractic story deserves the widest possible exposure.