Chiropractic Care is Safe and Effective

 Taking a Natural Systemic Approach to Healing 

Chiropractic is a way of looking at the human body as a whole.  It's based on the idea that the body is self­-sustaining and  self­-healing. 

You know that your body is controlled by your brain, but the  spinal cord and vast network of nerves that carry its messages are just  as important. When this system is not functioning at its peak, your  body’s overall performance suffers.

 In the chiropractic world, we don’t use drugs to treat our  patients. While supplementation and nutrition are almost always a part  of the bigger picture, drugs and prescriptions can be viewed as  band­aids to treat symptoms rather than treating the source of the  problem. Chiropractic treats the problem naturally and in turn prompts  the body to heal itself. 

While it's often perceived that the chiropractor solely treats  back and neck pain, this is a small piece of what the profession is  capable of handling. Chiropractors not only treat soft and hard tissue  problems such as sciatica and joint pain, but are largely called on to  deal with many different health issues. Some of these issues include  fibromyalgia, allergies, insomnia, and headaches among many more.  

When a vertebrae becomes misaligned or moves out of its normal  position, this is referred to in the chiropractic profession as a  subluxation, or more precisely, the Vertebral Subluxation Complex (VSC).  VSC can be caused by a wide range of issues ranging from a minor slip  or bump to a car accident or any sudden trauma. When a vertebrae is  subluxated, it begins to put pressure on nerves, blood vessels and other  surrounding structures. 

The subluxation interrupts the natural nerve pathways that carry  messages to and from the brain. In addition, as time goes by and the  subluxation remains untreated, the spine and surrounding features such  as discs can begin to degenerate. 

This degeneration becomes more difficult to reverse as time goes  by and the surrounding muscles, nerves and bones begin to adjust to the  new shape. Because the body is a remarkable machine, it will start to  accommodate these changes by compensating in other areas. The longer the  subluxation is untreated, the longer it will take for treatment to  return the vertebrae to its normal position. 

A vertebral subluxation can be identified by its five components:  

• Spinal Kinesiopathology (movement of the bones) 
• Neuropathophysiology (nerve dysfunction)
• Myopathology (muscle changes)
• Histopathology (tissue damage)
• Pathophysiology (abnormal growth)

Chiropractors are experts in the manipulation of soft and  hard tissue. Small, quick movements to the spine can reposition the  vertebrae into its natural position. Through treatment, a vertebral  subluxation can be corrected back to healthy functionality.  

For a healthy spine, keep these tips in mind!

Standing:  If you know you will be standing for an extended period, make  sure that you wear supportive shoes and make sure you know how to keep  good posture. Good posture is the key to a healthy spine. Keep your chin  up and your shoulders back. Keep both feet about shoulder­-width apart. 

Working at a Desk:  Make sure that you are getting up every 30 minutes to stretch,  even if you just walk around for a few minutes. Next, be sure you are  seated correctly. Make sure you have a chair that offers good lower back  support. You also want your feet flat on the floor with your knees at a  90­ degree angle. If you need a stool under your feet to do this, bring  one to work. Your computer screen should be at eye­-level so you are  not looking down at it. 

Lifting:  Lifting objects is one of the most common ways to injure  yourself. Start by squatting down to the object with one foot slightly  in front of the other. Keep your back straight, only bending at the  knees and hips. Keep your head looking forward and lift the object by  straightening your legs, still keeping your back straight. Hold the  object close to your body. Never twist while picking something up. Only  turn once you are fully upright. Keep the same idea in mind when you are  putting the object back down. 

Warming Up for Physical Activity: If you know that you are going to be working or playing for a  while, make sure that you are adequately warmed up. Even when only  performing light activities, like gardening or pushing your child on a  bike, it's easy to pull something if you don’t prepare your body. 

Talking On The Telephone:  If you're forced to use the telephone for a long period of time, a  speaker or a headset is a must.  Do not cradle the phone between your  neck and your shoulder as this could cause you to damage the muscles or  vertebrae in that area. 

Resting or Sleeping:  Straining your neck or back while you're sleeping is a very  common occurrence. We often fall asleep in positions where we are not  supported properly, or we fall asleep with our necks at an odd angle.  Make sure your pillow supports your neck and head so that it lays  neutral with the rest of your spine. Sleeping on your stomach is not  recommended as it puts stress on your neck and your back.