What Is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is the third largest primary health care profession in the world. Chiropractic philosophy is based on the scientific premise that the brain and nervous system provide the communication within the body to allow proper function of every cell, tissue and organ. Primarily, chiropractors look for a condition in the spine called ‘subluxation’.

What is subluxation?

Subluxation is misalignment or restriction of the spinal bones which then cause interference to the spinal nerves exiting the spine. Your spinal nerves are responsible for passing every message and instruction between your brain and your body. If these nerves are interfered with this can cause ‘dis-ease’ within the body. This may vary from pain in the back to pins and needles down the arm to headaches or even fatigue and lack of energy. However, subluxation often doesn’t cause us any noticeable symptoms at all. A bit like tooth decay – by the time we feel the pain, the cavity has already formed! This is why in some cases it can take time for the symptoms to go away and for function to return, the problem has been there a long time without you knowing it.

How do we get subluxated?

Subluxation can occur from large incidents such as car accidents, sporting injuries, slipping over or tripping on the stairs.

Subluxation can also occur from very small things done frequently over time, for instance bad posture at a desk or when driving, always carrying your child on the same hip, repetitive actions in the work place or home or sleeping with too many pillows to name but a few.

These are all examples of PHYSICAL causes. Other causes of Subluxation may be CHEMICAL (smoking, alcohol, medications, pollution) or EMOTIONAL (stress, tension, depression, anxiety). In most cases, subluxation occurs due to a combination of these three stresses. It is very difficult to avoid these things every day, so it makes sense that they can start to build up and cause subluxation to our spines.

So what does the Chiropractor do?

Your chiropractor will determine if there is any subluxation or joint dysfunction in your body through a thorough history and a structural, orthopaedic, chiropractic and neurologic examination. Once this is done you will be given a report of your findings and your care can begin! Chiropractic care involves safe and specific ‘adjustments’.

What is an adjustment?

Chiropractic adjustments are low amplitude, high velocity gentle thrusts delivered to the joint that is restricted and causing subluxation. By restoring function to the joint and removing the pressure from the nervous system, your nerves are then freed up to do their job again and start the healing process. Adjustments also help to relieve muscle spasm and inflammation associated with the subluxation. Adjustments can be performed by hand or by specially designed chiropractic tools. Your chiropractor will find the best method of adjusting you - and remember every body is different, so your adjustment may not be the same as your friend's or your child's.

Your Chiropractor may also use soft tissue techniques and stretching to help your muscles on their road to recovery.