What is chiropractic?
Perhaps this is your first introduction to chiropractic as a health care profession. If this is the case, you probably have some questions about what chiropractic is, and how the natural conservative approach of chiropractic may help in relieving your particular health ailment.
Chiropractic is a branch of the healing arts, and as a health-care discipline it is based on the premise that good health care depends, in part, upon a normally functioning nervous system. The central nervous system consists of the brain and the spinal cord; the peripheral nervous system consists of 31 pairs of spinal nerves which exit from the spinal column (backbone). These are a series of nerves by which the central nervous system is connected with the various tissues of the body. When body structures such as cells and organs are functioning normally, a state of health or normal physiology exists.
The spinal column provides protection, mobility, and weight bearing support for our upright position. Irritation to the spinal nerves can occur when spinal biomechanics are comprised and not functioning properly.
A misalignment of the spine can hinder the body’s functioning and health. Chiropractic maintains that the body has the ability to heal its self and maintain good health, if there are no misalignments of the spine. A healthy nervous system builds a healthy body.
Chiropractors perform spinal adjustments with their hands as their main tools. A spine adjustment is the application of a precise force to a specific part of the spinal segment. The goals of an adjustment are to restore normal nerve transmission, improved movement of the joint, relaxation of spasmodic muscle, improved circulation and to assist the body in recuperating. Chiropractors help the body help itself by allowing the body to work at its optimal best.
