What is chiropractic? What does a chiropractor do? How do we get spinal nerve stress (subluxation)? Who is affected by subluxation? Are there other significant factors besides vertebral adjusting?

When was the first chiropractic patient treated? How are chiropractic treatments performed? What are some of the conditions commonly treated by chiropractic? Can I receive chiropractic treatments if I'm under medical care?

What is chiropractic?

Chiropractic returns the body to balance through adjustments of the spine and joints, normalizing joint motion, reducing nerve interference, relieving stress and restoring normal body function. Whenever there is a system containing many movable parts, a complex balance is necessary between those parts. Chiropractors influence the body's nervous system and natural defense mechanisms in order to alleviate pain and improve general health.

A drug-free, non-surgical method of treating or preventing disease by manual manipulation of the joints of the body, especially the spinal column. Many chiropractors are also trained in complementary fields, such as accupuncture and nutrition.

What does a chiropractor do?

A Chiropractor is a physician who looks to the physiological and biochemical aspects of the patient, including structural, spinal, musculoskeletal, neurological, vascular, emotional and environmental relationships. Treatments you can expect to receive from a Chiropractor include adjustment and manipulation of the articulations and adjacent tissues of the human body especially the spinal column.

How do we get spinal nerve stress (subluxation)?

Subluxation is the alteration of the bones, muscles, and nerves of the spine which causes compression, tension, irritation and damage to the Central Nerve System. This disturbs the Central Nerve system and causes the organs and muscles of the body to malfunction and heal poorly.

Subluxations are caused by a lifetime of stress and trauma. Any stress that your body cannot deal with at a point in time may produce spinal subluxation. Physical, chemical, mental, or emotional changes in your environment create stress. Slips, falls, auto accidents, sports injuries, poor posture, bad sleeping habits, stress at work, family stress, marital stress, abuse, chemical exposure, medications, or even childhood mishaps and the birth process itself, can cause the spinal bones and/or spinal cord to move out of it's normal position.

"...excessive changes in the cord may produce measurable changes in motor, sensory and autonomic function. These are accentuated whenever the cord is stretched, and may be reversed, and the symptoms relieved, if stretching can be eliminated and the affected tissues are kept relaxed." — Alf Breig, Neurosurgeon

It may occur in infancy from a difficult birth or from childhood falls. Later in life, emotional tension or stress can gradually damage your spine or violent injuries from automobile accidents or sports can suddenly knock you "out of whack".

Who is affected by subluxation?

Nearly everyone eventually gets spinal nerve stress. It is a "hidden epidemic" and it is for that reason that we all need to have our spines checked for this condition by a doctor of chiropractic every once in a while, just as we get our eyes, teeth and blood pressure checked!

In Chiropractic, are there other significant factors besides vertebral adjusting?

Yes, there are four laws to obey for those who desire health and longevity:

• Proper nutrition
• Adequate rest
• Moderate exercise
• A positive mental attitude

No matter what disease or condition you have, you can benefit from a healthy spine. Spinal health can be as important for your overall healing as proper nutrition. Are you and your family carrying the silent killer, the vertebral subluxation complex, in your spines? Only a chiropractic spinal checkup can tell.

Among the many things contributing to your health are: The quality of the air, food and water you take in; how you handle emotional stress; your inherited weaknesses and strengths; your use of drugs; exercise; and relaxation - a healthy spine is absolutely essential. In some people it is a major factor and can make the difference between a life of health, strength and vitality or a life of disease, weakness and disability.

When was the first chiropractic patient treated?

Modern chiropractic began in 1895 when Dr. D.D. Palmer performed the first chiropractic "spinal adjustment" on his deaf janitor, Harvey Lillard. Lillard's hearing returned and Palmer thought he had discovered a cure for deafness. But as patients with problems, back pain and many other conditions responded to spinal care, Palmer realized that he had discovered something more far-reaching indeed.

How are chiropractic treatments performed?

Chiropractors work with the bones and nerves of the spinal column and spinal cord respectively. Chiropractors spend years of highly specialized training in order to locate where misplaced spinal vertebrae are impinging the nerves which travel down the spinal cord and out through the spinal column to the muscles, organs and glands of the body. After location the vertebrae impinging the nerves (subluxation), the chiropractor, using various highly specialized techniques, is able to replace the misplaced vertebrae and thus release pressure on the nerves. That is called a spinal adjustment.

What are some of the conditions commonly treated by chiropractic?

All kinds of conditions are treated with chiropractic care, such as colds or ear infections, PMS, spinal or disc problems, arthritis, insomnia, stress, vision problems, headaches, allergies, bedwetting, colic, high blood pressure - the list is long! And yet, please remember the goal of chiropractic treatment is not the treatment of disease but rather the enhancement of health through the reduction of spinal nerve stress (vertebral subluxation complex).

The above list may seem long, as though chiropractic were a Panacea. The truth is that most textbooks list over two hundred diseases. Please be mindful of the fact that chiropractic care is not like one drug used for one condition, but on the contrary, it is a complete healing art within itself, concerned with the systems of the body such as nervous, circulatory, digestive, respiratory, eliminatory, reproductive, hormonal, musculoskeletal, etc., and seek to correct health problems within those systems.

Can I receive chiropractic treatments if I'm under medical care?

Absolutely. Having your spinal nerve stress corrected is important no matter what other type of care you're receiving. You can have your spinal column checked for vertebral subluxations by a doctor of chiropractic and still visit a doctor of homeopathy, naturopathy, osteopathy or medicine. M.D.'s and other healers cannot tell if you're suffering from spinal nerve stress (vertebral subluxations) and are not trained in correcting it.