Many of you have most likely heard of chiropractic or even been a patient under chiropractic care. When people think about chiropractic, they typically associate it with being a great treatment for neck and back pain. While this is true, most people don’t realize that chiropractic is so much more than a pain treatment. This article is going to help clarify what chiropractic is and how it can benefit everyone.
What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a field of healthcare that focuses on the health of the spine, joints and nervous system. A Doctor of Chiropractic looks at the health of the whole body in order to support total wellbeing, rather than focusing on a disease state. They utilize chiropractic adjustments to restore normal joint function and support optimal function of the nervous system. Ultimately, a chiropractor optimizes overall health and helps a lot of people achieve wellness without the use of drugs and surgery.
A Chiropractor is:
A chiropractor is a primary care doctor that specializes in spinal health and wellbeing. They promote prevention rather than disease care. A chiropractor will diagnose and conservatively treat spine and joint related disorders utilizing chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue therapy, exercises, supplements, nutrition and lifestyle recommendations.
A Chiropractic Adjustment is:
A chiropractic adjustment is a safe, effective, specific and controlled force applied gently to a joint to restore function, mobility and local neurological integrity. An adjustment is delivered either by hand or an adjusting instrument such as an activator.
What is Chiropractic Good For?
Everything! It is an excellent choice for general wellness, prevention and pain relief. Chiropractic care can also help with other health issues such as digestive problems, endocrine disorders, migraines, hormonal issues and metabolic disorders through optimization of nervous system function. The brain controls everything in our body. The spine and network of nerves are the superhighway between the brain and the body. When there is interference or a traffic jam in this superhighway (a.k.a. subluxation), we can begin to see abnormal function in our body systems (constipation, urinary problems, infertility, hypothyroidism, etc.).
Benefits of Chiropractic
Chiropractic helps to promote the natural healing ability of the body. Our bodies are self-sustaining and self-healing. When we get a cut, it isn’t the bandage and antimicrobial salve that heals the cut. Our innate healing ability is what heals the cut. Sometimes life can throw that innate healing ability a curveball that leads to dysfunction and disease. In chiropractic, we call this curveball a subluxation. The subluxation is a combination of abnormal joint motion, tissue inflammation, muscle spasm and neurological compromise. This subluxation interferes with the body’s ability to self-heal. Things that can cause subluxation include thoughts (emotional stress), trauma and toxins (environmental exposures, poor diet). The chiropractic adjustment and corresponding therapeutic treatments are aimed at removing this interference and optimizing the innate ability of our body to heal itself.
Who Can Benefit From Chiropractic Care?
Everyone! Chiropractic is safe and effective for all ages from newborns to elderly. While the chiropractic adjustment is gentle force applied to a joint, that gentle force is further modified to fit each patient case. The pressure used on an infant is only as firm as the pressure of a fingertip pressed gently into the flesh of a ripe tomato, whereas the pressure on an adult joint is a deeper and firmer contact.
What Can You Expect From a Chiropractic Appointment?
During your first appointment, your chiropractor will take a history and perform a physical, neurological and structural exam of your joints and spine. They may also order joint or spinal x-rays if they are indicated in your history and exam. Some patients will receive their first adjustment that same day.
The physicians at the Brannick Clinic of Natural Medicine are both chiropractic and naturopathic physicians to provide a comprehensive approach to your health. If you are not already a chiropractic patient, consider adding regular chiropractic adjustments to optimize your treatment plan and promote overall wellness.
Dr. Jodi Perrin, ND, DC