What’s Chiropractic All About?

 

Chiropractic literally means, “Done by Hand” and has existed since ancient times. Chiropractic focuses on the restoration of normal motion and alignment to the spine, and extremities. When normal motion is restored, the body’s natural healing mechanisms can let the body function properly. Better structure and better motion leads to better function. Using the chiropractic adjustment as the primary tool for restoring normal function, the nature of chiropractic focuses on an approach to health through prevention, as well as a cause of symptoms, instead of only focusing on them. Chiropractors also consider the human body as a whole, integrated system. This is where the holistic or “wholistic” term applies.

 

Chiropractors are also known as Doctors of Chiropractic or Chiropractic Physicians and practice a drug-free, hands-on approach to health care. A visit to the chiropractor includes an examination/evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment related to chiropractic. We do not offer to treat or diagnose medical diseases. Our focus is on problems with musculoskeletal and nervous system, and the effects these problems have on general health. Most often, chiropractic care is used to treat neuromuscularskeletal complaints, but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches. When issues arise outside the scope of chiropractic, we will immediately refer to the appropriate physicians or order diagnostic tests necessary.

 

The chiropractic adjustment, or also referred as chiropractic manipulation, focuses on the correction of a vertebral subluxation, usually done by hand. Some chiropractors may employ instruments or other techniques for this correction. According to the World Health Organization, a vertebral subluxation is, “A lesion or dysfunction in a joint or motionsegment in which alignment, movement integrity and/or physiological function are altered, although contact between joint surfaces remains intact. It is essentially a functional entity, which may influence biomechanical and neural integrity.” The vertebral subluxation complex is a syndrome associated with a number of signs and symptoms.

 

To find out more about the science, art, and philosophy of chiropractic, as well as a myriad of information regarding how chiropractic might help you, please refer to our links page.