WHAT IS CHIROPRACTIC?

Chiropractic is the largest and most popular drug-free health care system in the world and has been a saving grace to millions of people worldwide since its discovery in 1895 by D.D. Palmer. Chiropractors are unique in healthcare since their only interest lies in addressing the cause of illness and not the effects of that illness (symptoms). Chiropractic is based on the scientific fact that your body can regulate and heal itself. This innate wisdom or intelligence of the body is expressed through the nervous system at all times reaching every tissue, organ and cell in the body.

ALL functions of the body are coordinated and controlled via the nervous system – which consists of the brain, spinal cord, and all the nerves of the body. This is why Chiropractors work primarily with the spine because it houses and protects the nervous system. To understand Chiropractic you only need to acknowledge the awesome power of the nervous system. Your immune system, endocrine system, digestive system and all the other systems of the body are not separate from the nervous system but in fact they are controlled by it!

Chiropractic focuses on supporting this innate intelligence and provides the body the ability to heal itself. We consider it an inside-out approach to health naturally. After all, the power that made the body heals the body. This unique approach in healthcare is gaining popularity quickly as more people are seeking Chiropractic care for natural and safe solutions for their health.

WHAT IS SUBLUXATION & HOW DO YOU GET IT?

There are three basic stressors in our lives that can disrupt the ability of the nervous system to perform optimally. Physical Stressors could include slips and falls, accidents, repetitive motions and improper lifting. Emotional Stressors of daily life can affect the spine too, have you ever felt your shoulders and neck tighten up from being nervous or anxious? Chemical Stressors include a poor diet full of chemical preservatives and dyes, smoking, controlled substances, and even air quality. These stressors can immediately or over time create subtle changes in the position of the spine interfering with the messages that are being carried by the nerve between the brain and the rest of the body. This interference is known as Subluxation, which limits or impairs our body’s ability to regulate, adapt and heal itself. All of which can have dramatic effects on your health, lifestyle, and lower the body’s resistance to illness and dis-ease.

HOW DOES CHIROPRACTIC HELP?

Chiropractors are the only specialist in finding and correcting Subluxations to restore optimal nervous system function. Chiropractic is the science, art and philosophy of removing these interferences in the nervous system by adjusting the misplaced vertebrae back into position and allowing the body to naturally heal itself with increased coordination and communication between the brain and the body. As the nervous system is the major controller of all bodily functions, the removal of nerve interference is how Chiropractic can help a variety of conditions. If your condition is out of the Chiropractic scope or would be more appropriately managed by another healthcare specialist, we will gladly and promptly make the necessary referral.

ISN’T CHIROPRACTIC ONLY FOR BACK & NECK PAIN?

You may be surprised to learn that research studies have provided scientific evidence showing Chiropractic care is not only effective in the treatment of back and neck problems, but can also provide effective relief with children suffering from ear infections, those suffering from digestive problems like constipation, and a number of other seemingly “non-spinal” conditions like bed-wetting and asthma. While it’s not prudent to guarantee relief from such conditions or claim to “treat” these conditions, Chiropractic has successfully helped millions of individuals with all sorts of health conditions by positively affecting the nervous system. By optimizing spinal column structure and biomechanics, irritation and stress are removed and through optimal function health can once again be restored.

Many medical experts are now coming to understand the true effectiveness of Chiropractic care and are recommending major changes in the way our healthcare system manages many common spinal problems. Chiropractic care will benefit everybody in some way just as dental care will benefit almost everyone in some way. The reason being, it is very difficult to go through life without experiencing physical, chemical, and emotional stress which can affect the structure of your spine in some way.

I DON’T HAVE PAIN OR SYMPTOMS, WHY DO I NEED CHIROPRACTIC?

Just because you are not in pain or experiencing any symptoms or conditions, doesn’t mean Chiropractic care is not for you. Pain is the last sign to show up when there has been a problem and typically the first to leave with care. The majority of your nervous system is not designed to sense or feel pain; you can have a Subluxation and not feel pain! Think about a cavity in your tooth, can you feel them grow? Though we want to know your pain and symptoms, the presence of absence of these are not a true indication of your health. Unfortunately 4 of every 10 Americans’ first sign of cardiovascular disease is death, does this mean they were truly healthy the day before? After all they didn’t have any symptoms…

Remember that your nervous system controls everything in the body and any interference in the nervous system can lead to dysfunction in the body. Chiropractic care can actually help prevent many problems from ever developing. Therefore, it is vital to have your spine checked regularly, even if you don’t have pain. We also acknowledge that matter has limitations, and that a good clean diet and exercise, drinking water, and removing stress also greatly impacts your health. We take pride in offering wholistic care that takes these important things into account and have solutions ready to go if a patient chooses to pursue them.

WHAT IS AN ADJUSTMENT?

The Chiropractic Adjustment is the Chiropractor’s method of correcting Subluxation. Adjustments involve a quick and gentle thrust to spinal joints that have been identified to not be moving correctly, or subluxated. There are 24-segments in a human spine which can move in a seven different directions with an extensive number of combinations of possible misalignment. It is the Chiropractor’s job to analyze the precise level that needs to be adjusted and the specific manner in which it needs to be corrected. Each adjustment is tailored to each individual’s spine, restoring motion and neurological function. This allows the affected structures to not only move better but more importantly, heal better.

CAN I ADJUST MYSELF WHEN I “POP” MY NECK OR BACK?

NO! Some people can force their joints to “pop” but this is not an adjustment. Worse yet, damage can occur to the joints above and below a subluxation if this is done repeatedly over time. This diagram shows how the “stuck” joint causing restricted range of motion and pain often times remains “stuck” and all the bones above and below them shift instead. This causes otherwise normal joints to move too much and can accelerate the development of arthritis. Yikes! The sound we hear is produced when nitrogen gas in the lubricating fluids in the spinal joints shift. Though the sound is interesting, it isn’t a guide to the quality or value of the adjustment. Adjustments are meant to be specific and must only be applied to the joint(s) that is dysfunctional. It takes years to master this craft and even your Chiropractor must consult a colleague to benefit from Chiropractic care themselves. If it was truly possible to adjust yourself with any true correction or therapeutic value, Chiropractic as a whole wouldn’t exist. Dr. Gonstead has said “Cracking a joint don’t mean nothing if it’s not done properly”! Despite the sarcastic double negative we believe what he’s saying is true. There is a vast difference between forcing a joint to “crack” and restoring its proper motion with an adjustment.