Chiropractic is a natural method of health care that treats
the causes of physical problems rather than just the symptoms,
which include pain.
Yes.
Chiropractic care is among the safest of the healing arts since it is noninvasive and
not burdened by the inherent risks and side effects associated with taking
medication. Having your spinal nerve stress corrected is important, no matter
what other type of health care you are receiving.
The
chiropractic approach to better health is to locate and help remove interference
which inhibits your natural state of well being. A common condition which interferes
with the nervous system is the abnormal movement or positioning of any of the 24
moving bones of 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 controlling nerve impulses. With improved spinal function there is
often improved nervous system function. Your chiropractor can help
remove interferences that may be impairing normal health.
Chiropractors do not treat conditions - instead, they correct a major cause of
disease or lack of body harmony, the vertebral subluxation complex. Vertebral
subluxations are very common and often painless. That's why chiropractors suggest
spinal checkups for all members of the family.
Newborns have received received spinal adjustments, especially after difficult or
traumatic births. There are case histories of infants close to death who were
adjusted in hospitals with seemingly miraculous recoveries. It is advised to have
children's backs checked periodically during their growth phase in order to have
misalignments corrected before they become severe.
Since
significant spinal trauma can occur at birth, many parents have their newborns
checked for vertical subluxation complex. Later, learning to walk, ride a
bicycle, and other activities can cause spinal problems. While a bandage and some
comforting words can help a skinned knee, the unseen damage to the child's
spine is the unique domain of a chiropractic doctor. Many childhood health complaints
that are brushed off as "growing pains" can often be traced to the spine.
Regular chiropractic checkups can identify these problems and help avoid many
of the health complaints seen in later in adults. Naturally, chiropractic adjusting
procedures are modified to a child's spine. Most parents report that their children
enjoy their chiropractic adjustments and seem healthier than other children.
Spinal problems,
neglected since early childhood, may require ongoing supportive care for
optimum spinal function. These long-standing problems are often associated with
muscle weakness, soft tissue damage, and degenerative changes to the spine. This also
depends on your condition, age, and level of spinal degeneration. In most cases, pain
relief can be achieved within one to two weeks. Correction of the spine, which gives
long lasting results takes longer. How long you decide to benefit from chiropractic
care is always up to you.
More and more
people are consulting chiropractic doctors, especially in their later years. With
growing concerns about over-medication and the side effects of combining various
prescription drugs, safe, natural chiropractic care is growing in popularity. Like
the rest of your body, without proper care your spine begins to degenerate over time.
The result of everyday stress can result in a spine that is out of alignment, causing
joint stiffness and leaving the body functioning at a less than optimal level.
Chiropractic adjustments can restore joint mobility and the overall health of your
spine. Adjustments can help to reduce swelling and irritation, relieve pain, and slow
degeneration, all conditions often seen in the senior years.
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, in order to remove
vertebral subluxations. This adds motion to the joint, helping the bones gradually
return to a more normal position and motion. The purpose of this safe and natural
procedure is improved spinal function, improved nervous system function, and improved
health. Usually the doctor's hands or a specially designed instrument delivers a brief
and highly-accurate thrust. Some adjusting methods are quick, whereas others require a
slow and constant pressure.
The moving bones of the spine, which are designed to protect
the spinal cord and nerve roots,
sometimes become fixated or "locked up", forcing
other joints to move too much. These problems can distort
normal spine curves, compromise proper function, and
even cause
compensation reactions in other areas. Adjustments help bones gradually return to a
more normal position by adding
motion to a joint.
The treatment
given to patients is gentle and safe. Chiropractic care should not be painful during
or after being "adjusted". Various techniques are used to help the body
respond to care. During the initial treatment phase, there may be some discomfort for
several hours following the appointment as the patient's body becomes adjusted to the
corrected alignment. Usually, your treatment is pain-free and you can feel positive
results right away, especially in terms of decreased pain and increased mobility.
Every patient
presents a uniquely different spinal pattern. The doctor evaluates each patient's
unique spinal problem and develops an individual course of care. Some patients who
complain of headaches may actually have a lower back problem that is causing a
compensation reaction at the base of the skull. Other patients may be experiencing
numbness and tingling in their fingers when the actual problem is in the neck. While
visits may seem similar, each patient's care is uniquely different from every other
patient.
During joint
manipulation you can often hear "cracking" or "popping"
sounds. These sounds are generated when carbon dioxide and other gases are released
from your joint fluid during rapid distraction of the joint surfaces. The effect is
similar to the bubbling and "hissing" you hear when you open a pop bottle
or can and in no way harms your joints. Actually, not all adjusting techniques
produce the sound associated with "popping knuckles." Some create no sound
at all, some a little.
In a majority
of cases, chiropractic can definitely prevent back surgery. It is an unfortunate fact
that half of those who had spinal surgery discover a return of their original
symptoms months or years later, facing the prospect of additional surgery. This too
common occurrence is known as "Failed Back Surgery Syndrome." Chiropractic
may help prevent repeated operations.
Yes, after the
break heals. In fact, a broken bone forms a callus or bone scar when it heals that is
stronger than the rest of the bone, which should dispel any concerns about the safety
of an adjustment. People who have had broken bones need chiropractic check-ups
because accidents usually cause spinal
subluxations.
The cause of
painful headaches is usually found in the misalignment of the cervical spine (neck
area). Since this usually occurs with a loss of the normal curve in the cervical
spine, there is nerve interference (pinched nerves) blocking the healthy flow of
information from the brain through the nervous system to the body. However, the
normal cervical curve can be restored to the extent the body will allow through
corrective chiropractic adjustments and cervical traction to eliminate the
misalignments in the spine which were causing the headache.
In the area of the sciatic nerve
and legs, when nerves get irritated and result in pain, a properly adjusted
spine allows for relief of nerve irritation and, therefore, relief from painful problems.
Many patients prefer gentle adjustments to the alternatives of pain injections and
surgery.
Absolutely. Pregnant
women may find that chiropractic care helps the spine
compensate for the extra weight by making it more resilient.
