What is Chiropractic? The Basics
Chiropractic medicine is an alternative form of healthcare focused primarily on addressing alignment and movement restrictions within the spine. Although technically founded in 1895 by D.D Palmer, the origins of this healing art can be traced back to the days of Greek physician Hippocrates who said “look well to the spine as the cause of disease”. Chiropractors can treat a wide variety of health issues ranging from mechanical low back or neck pain, nerve entrapments such as carpal tunnel or sciatica, and other functional issues like vertigo, tinnitus, migraines, or gastric reflux.
Here are some of the statistics (1):
Chiropractors treat more than 35 million Americans annually.
One million chiropractic adjustments are performed each day in the US.
Chiropractic techniques are 40% more effective than medical care when it comes to treating lower back pain.
By visiting a Chiropractor regularly, you can reduce medical costs by up to 75%.
On top of the many tools your Chiropractor may use to help address your unique issues (i.e soft tissue massage, rehab exercises, modalities such as electrical stimulation or ultrasound), the swiss army knife of Chiropractic is the spinal adjustment. Correcting malalignments or mobility restrictions in the spinal column has profound and lasting effects throughout the entire body. The spine is made up of 24 vertebra: 7 cervical (neck), 12 thoracic (mid back) and 5 lumbar (low back). The column is capped on top by the occiput (base of skull) and anchored below by the sacrum (tailbone). The spine houses and protects the spinal cord, a critical component of your central nervous system. In short, any twisting, tilting, bending, or rigidity in your spine will have downstream consequences affecting your nervous system, and ultimately will manifest as symptoms. This could be low back pain, altered blood pressure, chronic headache, or anything in between. A well trained Chiropractor will take your history, perform a thorough examination and analysis of your spine and other relevant systems, and initiate a treatment plan to free your spine of restriction and congestion. As the adjustments take affect the innate intelligence that exists within your nervous system will be liberated and begin to flow freely, allowing you to heal naturally.
In conclusion, another quote to hopefully convey the importance of this profession…
“You are only as young as your spine is flexible”. -Joseph Pilates
American Chiropractic Association | Hands Down Better (2021). About Chiropractic [Online]. Available from: https://handsdownbetter.org/about-chiropractic/ [Accessed 9 February 2021].
