Chiropractic

Chiropractic focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic care is used most often to conservatively treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, headache, pain in the joints of the: arms, legs, and jaw. Doctors of Chiropractic practice a drug-free, hands-on approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis, treatment, and patient education.

The most common therapeutic procedure performed by doctors of chiropractic is known as “manipulation,” also called a “chiropractic adjustment.” An adjustment can be performed on the spine or in the extremities. The type(s) of adjustment techniques that are administered depends on individual patient needs. The purpose of adjusting is to restore joint mobility and range of motion to joint by manually applying a controlled force into a joint that has become restricted in its normal movement (hypomobile). Typically, adjusting involves applying a conservative and specific low amplitude force to the area to allow for better movement. Loss of joint motion in a joint is typically a result of a tissue injury. Tissue injuries can be caused by a single traumatic event, such as improper lifting of a heavy object, or through repetitive stresses, such as sitting in an awkward position for an extended period of time. Once the injury has occurred, the injured tissues undergo physical and chemical changes that cause inflammation, pain, and diminished function. Allowing joints to remain in a restricted state will ultimately lead to degenerative changes, soft tissue imbalances, movement dysfunction, and pain. The goal of adjusting is to restore mobility of the affected joint and tissues, thereby alleviating bio-mechanical stress and tension, allow surrounding tissues to heal, and halting degeneration.