Chiropractic
is a natural approach to healthcare.
It is based on a very simple premise – that good health
depends on a normal functioning nervous system. Chiropractic
uses a “hands on” approach to treating and preventing disorders
of the musculoskeletal system as well as the effects of those
disorders on the nervous system.
"The
nervous system controls and coordinates all organs and structures
of the human body." (Gray's Anatomy, 29th Ed.,
page 4) It is comprised of the brain, spinal cord and
spinal nerves. The
spinal cord and spinal nerves are the main pathway of the
nervous system which controls and coordinates every function
of the body. The spinal column protects the spinal cord. It
includes 24 vertebra, each separated by a disc.
Spinal nerves exit from between each vertebra and extend
to all parts of the body.
When spinal vertebrae are misaligned, those misalignments
cause pressure or irritation on the nerves, causing pain,
numbness, weakness, muscle spasms and interfering
with proper nerve signals. These vertebral misalignments are
called subluxations.
Chiropractors
are specialized in locating and correcting spinal subluxations.
Treatment consists of manual manipulation of the spine to
restore proper alignment. Such manipulations are called adjustments.
Spinal adjustments can correct structural imbalances, thus
restoring proper nerve function and relieving the symptoms
of pain, numbness and muscle weakness.
Headaches/Migraines
 Many
people suffer headaches and migraines on a regular basis and
accept it a normal part of life. But, you don't have to live
with headache pain.
Headaches
often begin in your cervical spine. The nerves and blood
vessels that go to the head pass through small openings in
between the cervical vertebrae. A misalignment of those vertebrae
can cause pressure on those nerves and constrict the blood
vessels - resulting in headache. Chiropractic treatment is
extremely successful in treating both the common headache
as well as migraine headaches by relieving the pressure on
nerves and blood vessels.
Neck
and Arm pain
Neck and
and related arm pain can indicate that nerves in the cervical
spine are
pinched due to spinal subluxations. Poor posture while
working, driving, reading or watching television or improper
sleeping positions can be the blame; but injuries from sports,
auto or work accidents can also be the cause. Chiropractic
adjustments have remarkable results by restoring proper alignment
of the vertebrae and releasing the pressure on the nerves
that cause pain.
Whiplash
Whiplash
is defined as an "injury to the cervical spine caused
by an abrupt jerking motion of the head, either backward or
forward." As a result of whiplash, a loss of
the normal curve of the neck occurs as well as restriction
of the nerves and blood vessels that pass through the openings
of the cervical spine. Associated symptoms of these
pinched nerves or constricted blood vessels include pain in
the head and neck, neck stiffness, headaches (often severe),
nervousness, dizziness, lightheadedness, tenseness, irritability,
insomnia, and numbness and/or pain in arms, hands and between
the shoulders. 
Which symptoms occur from whiplash injury depend on how the
injury was sustained. Often times, the symptoms do not
appear until days, weeks or even months after an accident.
Chiropractic treatment has a long history of success with
whiplash injury and its long-term ramifications. Spinal
manipulation will relieve pinched nerves and constriction
of blood vessels by correcting spinal misalignments and returning
the normal cervical curve.
Mid
Back Pain
Mid back
pain occurs from misalignments in the thoracic region of the
spine that may be a result of improper lifting, over-exertion,
trauma or poor posture. Pain can radiate to the chest
area and, at times, even cause difficulty breathing.
Chiropractic spinal adjustments can help restore proper spinal
alignment and relieve pain and associated symptoms.
Low
Back Pain
 Low
back pain is one of the leading causes of physician visits
in the US. At least four out of five adults will experience
low back pain at some point in their lives. Improper sitting
or lifting, trauma, over-exertion, weak and under-exercised
muscles all contribute significantly to low back problems
and spinal misalignments in the lower spine. Chiropractic
adjustments can help restore alignment, improve mobility and
relieve pain and stiffness.
Sciatica
Sciatica
is a term that refers to the painful inflammation of the sciatic
nerve that extends from your buttocks all the way down to
your toes. Sciatica sufferers often have a history
of low back pain. There can be several causes of sciatic
nerve irritation that include strain/sprain injuries of the
lower back, disc problems in the low back, sacroiliac joint
problems, poor posture, obesity or other internal diseases.
When the cause of the sciatica is due to the vertebrae of
the lower spine being shifted out of alignment, the
sciatic nerve can flare up and cause pain along the entire
nerve path from the buttock, back of thigh, into the calf
and down to the foot - or at various points along the nerve
such as the buttocks, knee or calf. Chiropractic adjustments
can help restore alignment of the vertebrae in the lower spine
to remove the pressure from the sciatic nerve, thus alleviating
pain.
Numbness/Tingling
in Arms and Legs
Numbness
and tingling in the arms and legs are often times a result
of improper nerve flow to those areas, resulting from spinal
subluxations that cause pinched nerves. Chiropractic adjustments
can remove the pressure and irritation from those nerves,
thus restoring proper nerve flow and alleviating the symptoms
of numbness.
Sports Injuries
Sprain/strain
injuries of the neck and back respond well to chiropractic
adjustments and physiotherapies which relieve the nerve pressure
that causes pain and muscle spasms.
Disc Disorders
Discs
are the soft, but strong, cushions that separate the vertebrae
in the spine and act like shock absorbers as your body moves.
Repeated strain over time or sudden injury can damage discs
and irritate nerves, causing pain and numbness or tingling
in the back, legs, neck and arms. 
Disc disorders are often referred to as herniated or "slipped
discs." This term is derived from the action of the spongy
center of the disc (nucleus), when it is forced away from
the center of the disc and bulges onto the spinal nerves,
causing nerve irritation. Left untreated, herniated discs
may become prolapsed.
A prolapsed disc occurs when the spongy center of the disc
ruptures and pushes through the outer wall, pressing on nearby
nerves and causing severe pain.
Other
disc disorders such as disc degeneration, thinning and spur
formation may occur from untreated spinal misalignments and
subluxations.
It is important to treat bulging disc problems - before they
rupture. Spinal adjustments can realign vertebrae and relieve
pressure from discs and nerves.
Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a sideways curvature
of the spine that can lead to increasing back pain and stiffness
and other related symptoms. Scoliosis is seen more often
in females than in males and usually begins in childhood.
Scoliosis usually occurs in the mid back (thoracic spine)
or lower back (lumbar spine). If
left untreated, symptoms from scoliosis can worsen.
Chiropractic spinal adjustments can improve the spine's alignment
and range of motion while relieving pain and stiffness.
NORMAL SPINE
SCOLIOSIS
. .
Arthritis
Arthritis is a condition involving
joint inflammation. It may be limited to one joint of
the body or many and can vary in severity. Arthritis
develops because the health and mobility of a joint is lost
and gradual deterioration of the joint occurs.
In the case of spinal joints,
spinal adjustments not only improve the function and movement
of the joint itself, but can improve the function of the spinal
nerve which passes through that joint.
Osteoarthritis is known as degenerative joint disease, or
the "wear and tear" disease. It is characterized
by degeneration of the joint cartilage, changes in the synovial
membrane which provides lubrication of the joint, and bony
outgrowths called spurs around the joint. These spurs
can sometimes fuse together and totally prevent joint motion.
Chiropractic treatment can provide effective treatment for
osteoarthritis by properly aligning the joints of the spine
to lessen wear and tear and relieve associated symptoms.
|
