What Is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a health care profession of primary care physicians that focuses on the health of the neuromusculoskeletal system. The neuromusculoskeletal system can be broken down into three parts: 1.) neuro – meaning the nerve (brain, spinal cord, nerves to organs, and nerves to muscles), 2.) musculo – meaning muscles, and 3.) skeletal – meaning bones. So more specifically, chiropractors are doctors that evaluate and provide corrections to assist the nerves, muscles, and bones of the body. Even though many people associate chiropractic care with neck pain, back pain, and headaches, many chiropractors have the privilege of helping patients with many different symptoms related to their nerves, muscles, and bones.
Doctors of Chiropractic – often referred to as chiropractors, or chiropractic physicians in some states – practice a drug-free, hands on approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis, and treatment. Chiropractors have broad diagnostic skills and are also trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises as well as provide nutritional, dietary, and lifestyle counseling.
The most common therapeutic procedure performed by doctors of chiropractic is known as the “chiropractic adjustment” or “spinal manipulation.” The purpose of an adjustment is to restore proper neurologic communication of the nerves that pass between, or near a joint. Many times, as joints become restricted and lose their motion, the neurologic input of the nerves associated with the area become affected. Joint restrictions can be caused by a single traumatic event, such as improper lifting of a heavy object, or through repetitive stresses such as sitting in an awkward position with poor spinal posture for an extended period of time. Dietary and emotional stress can also contribute to changes in the neuromusculoskeletal system. In either case, injured tissues undergo physical and chemical changes that can cause inflammation, pain, loss of motion, changes in sensation, changes in organ function, weakness, and generalized loss of function to the person involved. Adjustments (or manipulation) of the affected area not only helps to restore mobility to the area, but also improves neurological control to the region as well, thereby alleviating pain, abnormal function, weakness, and muscle tightness and allowing the tissues to heal themselves.
Chiropractic adjustments rarely cause discomfort. However, patients may sometimes experience mild soreness or aching following office visits (as with some forms of exercise) that usually resolves within 12 to 24 hours.
After a thorough examination, together we will determine if you are a candidate for chiropractic care, and if you could benefit from chiropractic adjustments. If further medical care is needed, outside of the role of a chiropractor, we will work together with you and your doctor to restore the function of the neruomusculoskeletal system. We assess all of our patients though a comprehensive clinical examination, as well as provide assistance in obtaining laboratory testing (blood, urine, etc) diagnostic imaging (X-ray, MRI, etc) and other diagnostic interventions as needed in order to help you to achieve a healthier, happier life.
