Chiropractic was formally introduced in 1895 and despite years of controversy has grown to become one of the leading primary health care practices in the world. It is considered a holistic approach to health and wellness.
Chiropractors utilize the body's inherent ability to heal itself and incorporate procedures that help to influence the nervous system and stimulate natural defense mechanisms to alleviate pain and improve general health.
Chiropractic is concerned with the relationship of the spinal column and the musculoskelatal structures of the body to the nervous system. Proper alignment of the spine is considered essential to proper health. Misalignments of the spine, known as subluxations interfere with nervous system functioning and consequently diminish the body's defenses.
The spinal column is comprised of 24 vertebrae that surround and protect the spinal cord. Each vertebrae contains spinal nerves that extend throughout the bones, muscles, organs and glands of the body. Health and wellness is dependent upon the proper functioning of the nervous systems three components, the central nervous system, the autonomic nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.
When vertebrae becomes misaligned it affects the normal functioning of the nerves in that particular area. This can lead to dysfunctioning in organs and organ systems throughout the body. Chiropractic is used to restore proper functioning through adjustments of the spine and joints.
Conditions Treatable With Chiropractic
Chiropractic has proven effective in the treatments of gastrointestinal disorders, high blood pressure, sinusitis, bronchial asthma, respiratory conditions, pain and various other conditions involving organs and organ systems impaired by misalignments of the spine.
Chiropractic is known to be beneficial in the management of pain associated with the lower back. Studied have shown that patients treated with chiropractic experience less pain over time than those treated by medical doctors. In addition the costs and number of visits required is much less than patients receiving medical care.
Chiropractic alignment is considered essential to health and longevity. Misalignments may cause the body to deteoriate prematurely due to the impairment of the proper functioning of the body's own internal mechanisms for self maintenance.
Chiropractic Treatments
The two main types of chiropractors are the straight chiropractors and the mixers. Straight chiropractors primarily focus on analyzing the spine for subluxations that impede the normal functioning of the nervous system. Mixers use a variety of adjunctive natural health care therapies including massage, exercise, nutrition, ultrasound and electrical stimulation.
The major types of chiropractic adjustments include applies kinesiology, stretching, non-force and network chiropractic which involves utilyzing any or all of the major types of adjustment techniques. Each chiropractor, much like most medical doctors will use the methods or combination of methods that have specialized in or that they have found to be effective.
When looking for a chiropractor it is best to find one that specializes with the particular condition that you are seeking treatment for.
American Chiropractic Association
1701 Clarendon Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22209
(703) 276-8800
International Chiropractors Association
1110 North Glebe Road
Arlington VA 22201
(703) 528-5000
World Chiropractic Alliance
2950 N. Dobson Road
Chandler AZ 85224
(800) 347-1011
Association for Network Chiropractic Spinal Analysis
PO Box 7682
Longmont CO 80501
(303) 678-8086
International College of Applied Kinesiology
PO Box 905
Lawrence KA 66044
(913) 542-1801
The American College of Addictionology and Compulsive Disorders
5990 Bird Road
Miami FL 33155
(305) 661-3474
