What is Chiropractic

Simply stated, chiropractic physicians restore proper motion to hypomobile (dysfunctional) joints, specifically in, though not limited to, the spine. Joint hypomobility causes tissue damage by obstructing proper blood flow necessary to maintain healthy tissue and by introducing nerve-irritating chemicals via the inflammatory process. Because of the spine’s relationship to the nervous system, spinal hypomobility (vertebral dysfunction) can impede the functionality of multiple body systems (nervous, organ, muscle). Long-term hypomobility results in pain and lowers the body’s resistance to disease. Elimination of these factors helps facilitate the body’s innate healing ability, thereby restoring an optimal functioning state. Chiropractic is a conservative and complementary approach to healthcare that focuses on correcting joint hypomobility, which in turn prevents / reduces pain and disease.

Chiropractors are five-year university-educated health professionals with the ability to recognize pathological conditions that may require immediate referral to mainstream medical facilities. Like other health practitioners, chiropractors follow a standard routine to secure the information needed for diagnosis and treatment. They take the patient’s medical history, conduct physical, neurological, and orthopedic examinations, and may order laboratory tests. Chiropractors also employ a postural and spinal analysis common to chiropractic diagnosis. Chiropractors provide quality health-care services covering a range of neuro-musculoskeletal issues, and are in regular contact with health professionals including general practitioners and other allied health professionals. Chiropractic is the most utilized of the registered health professions that do not fall into the ‘mainstream’ of health-care provision.

In cases where difficulties can be traced to involvement of musculoskeletal structures, chiropractors manually adjust the joints in addition to the use of other methods that relieve pain and restore proper function (heat, ice, massage, stretching).

The chiropractic approach is holistic, stressing the patient’s overall health and wellness. They encourage healthy lifestyle changes. This includes providing education and support in diet, nutrition, exercise, stress management, and sleeping habits.