Q: How does Chiropractic Work?
A: Chiropractic care works by restoring your innate or inborn ability to be healthy, naturally. When under the proper control of your nervous system, all of the cells, tissues and organs of your body are designed to fully resist disease and ill health.
A common interference to the nervous system is the 24 moving bones which make up the spinal column. A loss of normal motion or position of these bones can irritate or impair the function of the nervous system. This can disrupt the transmission of the controlling nerve impulses.
With improved spinal function there is often improved nervous system function.
Chiropractic care can and does have many positive effects on present day health conditions not normally thought of as back problems without the use of pain medications or invasive surgery.
Q: What is Chiropractic?
A: Chiropractic is based on the scientific fact that your body is a self-regulating, self-healing organism. These important functions are controlled by the brain, spinal cord and all of the connecting nerves of the body.
The skull protects the delicate tissues of the brain. The moving bones of the spinal column (vertebrae) protect the vulnerable communication pathways of the spinal cord and nerve roots.
If the nervous system becomes impaired, it can cause a malfunction of the tissues and organs throughout the body. This is called the Vertebral Subluxation Complex. Vertebral, meaning the bones of the spinal column. Subluxation, meaning a less than total dislocation.
Chiropractic is the science of locating misaligned spinal structures (subluxations). The art of reducing their impact to the nervous system and the philosophy of all things natural.
Q: Do I Have a Slipped Disk?
A: The intervertebral disc is a pad of cartilage-type material situated between the spinal bones. Each disc serves as a connector, spacer and shock absorber for the spine. A soft, jelly-like center is contained by outer layers of fibrous tissue. A healthy disc helps to allow normal turning and bending.
Technically, a disc cannot slip out of place. However, trauma or injury to the spine can cause discs to tear, bulge, herniate or worse, rupture. This can be quite painful as the soft center of the disc leaks, putting pressure on the adjacent nerve roots and spinal cord.
Q: Do I Have a Pinched Nerve?
A: Because of the way your spine is designed, abnormal spinal function caused by a physical trauma, emotional tensions or chemical toxins can affect the delicate tissues that make up the spinal cord and nerve roots.
A pinched nerve (compression lesion) is very rare. Researchers suggest only 10-15% of spinal-related problems are caused by direct pressure of bone and nerve tissue.
More frequently, nerves are irritated (facilitated lesions). This is caused when nerve tissue is rubbed, scraped, stretched by a loss of normal spinal curvature, irritated spinal joints as well as spastic musculature within close proximity to the involved nerve.
Q: What is an Adjustment?
A: A chiropractic adjustment is the art of using a specific force in a precise direction, applied to a joint that is fixated, "locked up," or not moving properly.
The chiropractic adjustment adds needed motion to the affected joint, helping the bones gradually return to a more normal position and available motion.
The purpose of this safe and natural procedure is to improve spinal function, improved nervous system function, and improved overall health and well-being.