What is it?
The focus of chiropractic care is maintaining proper joint function - primarily in the spine
- in order to re-establish pain free motion and to ensure that structures housed in the spine (brain stem, spinal cord
and nerve roots) are not being irritated by malfunctioning spinal segments. The central nervous system (brain, brain stem
and spinal cord) is "Houston Control" of the body. The nerves that connect the brain and spinal cord to the rest
of the body are the "telephone lines" allowing every cell, tissue, organ and system of the body to communicate with
the central nervous system, and vice versa. Thus, structural dysfunctions and nervous system irritations not only cause back
and neck pain, but can also be the underlying source of many health problems and dis-eases.
Take
a moment to consider all of the things happening in your body right now. Your heart rate, respiration rate, liver function,
kidney function, spleen function, the digestion and assimilation of your last meal, and the ability of your immune system
to monitor and defend against the external environment are all being handled automatically by your nervous system. The list
of miraculous physiological processes that take place each minute in order to sustain life goes on and on, but it is critical
to realize that a healthy nervous system offers the best chance for these processes to occur normally.
A
Chiropractor's goal is to improve the ability of spinal segments to move and position properly so that they
don't cause pain and/or interfere with the nervous system and ultimately, the health of the body. Most people seek Chiropractic
care for pain relief, and research has shown this approach to be the most effective treatment for many types of neuromusculoskeletal
pain. Solid research shows Chiropractic care to be safe, effective and affordable. It is an effective route
for treating many types of pain and it is a great way to promote overall health. Perhaps the most notable reason to consider
chiropractic care comes from Hippocrates, the 'Father of Medicine', who said "look well to the spine for the cause of
disease".
For more information, see the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research
