Foundations of Chiropractic Care
Foundations of Chiropractic Care
Whether you’re familiar with chiropractic treatment or not, you probably know that visiting your
chiropractor is a little different than visiting your GP. This is because, while both your chiropractor and your doctor have your health and well-being as their goal, their health systems and approaches to healing are different.
Mainstream Medicine vs. Chiropractic Care
The allopathic model of medicine practiced by most doctors focuses on identifying and treating
symptoms and diseases, often by prescribing medications. In contrast, chiropractic focuses on holistic health (that is, the health of whole person) and on achieving a harmonious balance throughout the body. Rather than simply treating symptoms, chiropractors seek to correct the underlying imbalances that cause those symptoms in the first place.
What is Chiropractic?
As stated by The Association of Chiropractic Colleges: "Chiropractic is a health care discipline which emphasizes the inherent recuperative power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs and surgery. The practice of chiropractic focuses on the relationship between structure (primarily the spine) and function (as coordinated by the nervous system) and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health." Put simply, the fundamental principle underlying chiropractic care is that the body possesses immense power—and this power stems from the spine and nervous system. So, how exactly do chiropractors use that knowledge to facilitate healing and wellness?
How Chiropractic Works
Chiropractic treatment is based on the foundational principle that the spine and central nervous system are intimately connected. The nervous system is the body’s command center and messaging system, made up of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. This system carries messages throughout the body and directs all of its functions. The spinal column protects the spinal cord and nerve roots. Each of these different parts is designed to work together. A properly aligned spine allows for optimal functioning. But sometimes, due to injuries, health conditions, or environmental factors, the spinebecomes misaligned. Because of the intimate relationship between the spine and nervous system, problems in the spinal column can irritate parts of the nervous system that they are designed to protect, causing pain or other health difficulties.
These issues can be caused by direct mechanical pressure (the position of the vertebrae, discs, etc.) or by biochemicals released during tissue injury. In either case, the functions of the nervous system can be impeded—and this creates a cascade whereby the cells, tissues, or organs that are supplied by that part of the nervous system are negatively affected.
Once you understand the intimate relationship between spine and nervous system, it’s easy to see that, by adjusting the spine, your chiropractor can influence other aspects of your nervous system, thereby helping all the systems of your body to function together to achieve greater overall wellness. So, how does this foundation of chiropractic care influence your treatment and what you can expect to gain from chiropractic?
Chiropractic Harnesses the Body’s Innate Capacity for Healing
Chiropractors know that the body has an incredible capacity for healing. It is designed to repair itself. Chiropractors focus on optimizing your body’s natural restorative abilities, rather than introducing foreign and potentially harmful measures like drugs or surgery. This is not to say that medicine or surgery are never appropriate. But in many instances, all the body needs is a little assistance to create a harmonious balance among its systems, and healing will follow.
Chiropractic is a Holistic Treatment that Aims to Optimize Health
Chiropractic is a holistic treatment, so it focuses on the health of the whole person. Chiropractors strive to understand and correct the root cause of an ailment, rather than simply treating symptoms. Because chiropractic treatments are primarily applied to the spine, it’s a common assumption that chiropractors treat only back and/or neck problems. But the truth is, chiropractic is much more than just a fix for back pain. It aims to restore and optimize health throughout the entirety of the body. Chiropractic Can Support Your Physical Health
This means that while chiropractic can absolutely help with back and neck pain, it can also address a host of other issues. Chiropractic can improve sleep, aid digestion, strengthen the immune system, reduce headaches and muscle tension, and speed up healing after an injury, among many others.
Mental Health Impacts
This foundational principle of holistic health also means that chiropractic care can positively affect your mental and emotional health. In some ways, this seems obvious: After all, people tend to feel better emotionally when they’re not fighting physical pain. But because chiropractic is holistic and focuses on the nervous system, which includes the brain, it can also reduce stress hormones and trigger the release of endorphins that help you to feel energized and happy.
What to Expect from Your Chiropractic Visit
Chiropractors are primarily concerned with locating and treating vertebral subluxations (misalignments along the spine that impede functioning of the nervous system). Some people are intimidated by the idea of someone manipulating their spine, but experienced chiropractors are highly skilled in both the art and science of correcting these misalignments and will use gentle force to bring that part of the spine back into its proper position.
While subluxations are the primary focus of chiropractors, remember that the goal of chiropractic is to optimize health. At Tracy and Keim Chiropractic, we create an appropriate treatment plan for each individual, and provide a variety of therapies and techniques for our patients. In addition to spinal adjustments, you may also benefit from services such as massage, nutritional counseling, physical therapies, or lifestyle modification programs.
Our practitioners will work with you to develop a treatment plan designed around your specific needs so that you are fully supported on your road to relief, recovery, and total body wellness. If you are ready to improve your quality of life, contact our office today at (541) 689-0935 to schedule an appointment. We will guide you through the process and make sure that you leave our clinic feeling better than when you walked in.
Sources:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allopathic%20medicine
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