What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic represents a distinct, natural, holistic, vitalistic, conservation, and rational health care paradigm that is both philosophically logical and scientifically valid. The main focus of a chiropractor is on the structural rehabilitation of the spine by removing subluxations (fixations/displacements) of the vertebrae. When the communication from the brain to the body is disrupted due to subluxation, the body can no longer function at its optimum as nature intended. To be truly healthy, it is vital that your nervous system be functioning free of interference from subluxations. Normal spinal structure is essential for normal nerve function, which in turn is essential for optimal health and attainable through Chiropractic care.
WHAT IS VERTEBRAL SUBLUXATION AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME?
Vertebral subluxation is when vertebral displacement (misalignment), altered (restricted) motion, or both exist between two adjacent vertebrae. This restriction interferes with the body's innate ability to maintain homeostasis causing life threatening stress to the body and toxins/poisons to be released.
IS CHIROPRACTIC SAFE?
Yes. It is one of the safest treatments available when administered by a qualified doctor of chiropractic. In fact statistic after statistic shows that patient risk is significantly lower with chiropractic as opposed to many medical procedures where prescription drugs and surgery are used. People who are under regular chiropractic care are among the healthiest people in the world enjoying far less hospitalization, medication and other doctor visits.
Yes, everyone should be checked for subluxation. You cannot feel subluxation, what you feel are the effects of subluxation. Some common effects of subluxation are ADD, ADHD, ear infections, headaches, allergies, insomnia, asthma, fatigue, spine/disc degenerations, and stress just to name a few. Many people have headaches, they are very common but they are not normal!
I AM NOT IN PAIN OR SICK, SHOULD I STILL SE A CHIROPRACTOR?
X-rays are a Chiropractor's road map to your spine. Fractures, bone density, arthritis of the spine, cancers, abnormalities, and spinal degeneration cannot be accurately determined without x-rays. They also serve to document a patient's progress, showing improvements in spinal structure.
Do i need x-rays?
ABSOLUTELY!! Since a significant spinal trauma can occur to both the mother and the child during the birthing process, all newborns are checked in my office for vertebral subluxation. Adjusting procedures are adapting to a child's spine. Children get the same improvements in overall health as adults do, but often faster. Chiropractic also helps prevent degenerative changes and other problems often seen late in adults.
DO CHIROPRACTORS WORK ON CHILDREN TOO?
NO! Certainly it is possible to make popping sounds by turning one's head in a certain way or bending or twisting the body, yet, these are not adjustments. Chiropractic adjustments are specific procedures delivered to only the area(s) of the spine that are subluxated. Besides the risk of self-inflicting damage, patients who attempt to manipulate themselves often cause these joints to become too loose and hypermobile. The resulting damage to the ligaments and other supporting tissues can cause serious problems. Even I must look to another Chiropractic doctor to be adjusted.
CAN I ADJUST MYSELF?
Chiropractic adjustments are designed to restore normal motion and position of individual bones of the spine. If there has been a passage of time (weeks or years) since the event causing the subluxation, supporting muscles and connective tissue are damaged. Eventually these malfunctioning muscles are infiltrated with fibrosis, a form of scare tissue. This fibrotic tissue is a lot like the gristle on a cheap cut of meat. This scar tissue significantly alters muscle elasticity and muscle tone (myopathology), interfering with the muscle's ability to assume proper function. Pain or other obvious symptoms are not always present to indicate subluxation. Yet, degeneration/decay, nervous system interference, suppressed immunity and other problems are occurring. Subluxation(s) can occur for years: it would be unreasonable to expect stabilize it in one or two adjustments. Chiropractic cases are a lot like Orthodontic(s) cases. When the teeth are crooked, it can take years to straighten them out. Luckily, adjustments can straighten your vertebra in a fraction of that time. Each adjustment builds on the next one safely restoring normal juxtaposition of the vertebra leading to proper structure and function (homeostasis) of the body.