CHIROPRACTIC
Chiropractic is a branch of the healing arts which is based upon the understanding that good health depends, in part, upon a normally functioning nervous system (especially the spine, and the nerves extending from the spine to all parts of the body). “Chiropractic” comes from the Greek word Chiropraktikos, meaning “effective treatment by hand.” Chiropractic stresses the idea that the cause of many disease processes begins with the body’s inability to adapt to its environment.
We look to address these diseases not by the use of drugs and chemicals, but by locating and adjusting the musculoskeletal area of the body which is functioning improperly. Guyton, in his authoritative text, The Textbook of Medical Physiology , states that “the nervous system controls and coordinates all body functions”. Therefore, the list of disorders that can be helped by chiropractic is quite diverse. It is a very common occurrence that, when a patient that we are treating for lower back pain, notices that their stomach problems have improved or in a patient that we are treating for neck pain, notices that their headaches and concentration have improved.
We use a standard procedure of examination to diagnose a patient’s condition and arrive at a course of treatment; namely the same time-honored methods of consultation, case history, physical/orthopedic examination, and x-rays as any other doctor. In addition, we provide a careful structural examination, paying particular attention to the spine.
The examination of the spine to evaluate structure and function is what makes chiropractic different from other health care procedures. Your spinal column is a series of movable bones which begin at the base of your skull and end in the center of your hips. Thirty-one pairs of spinal nerves extend down the spine from the brain and exit through a series of openings. The nerves leave the spine and form a complicated network which influences every living tissue in your body.
Accidents, falls, stress, tension, overexertion, and countless other factors can result in a hypo or hyper mobility of the vertebrae of the spinal column, causing irritation to spinal nerve roots. These irritations are often what cause malfunctions in the human body. Chiropractic teaches that reducing or eliminating this irritation to spinal nerves can cause your body to operate more efficiently and more comfortably.
Chiropractic also places an emphasis on nutritional and exercise programs, wellness and lifestyle modifications for promoting physical and mental health. While chiropractors make no use of drugs or surgery, we do refer patients for medical care when those interventions are indicated.
Chiropractic Works