What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is the health profession that addresses the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of alterations in the musculo-skeletal system, and the effects that these disorders produce in the nervous system and general health.

It places special emphasis in the inherent capacity of the organism to heal itself and the predominance of the nervous system, in relation to the other systems, in controlling general equilibrium of the human body (Aka: homeostasis).

The treatment is fundamentally manual, with the unifying characteristic of the profession being the specific manual vertebral adjustment although many other techniques are available to accommodate different people and different conditions.

Traditionally, Chiropractic attends to the detection, analysis, and correction of the chiropractic subluxation or vertebral subluxation complex. The chiropractic subluxation is a complex of functional, structural, and pathological changes that compromises nervous system function. This may affect the normal activity of other body systems and, consequently, your health.

The evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of the vertebral subluxation complex is realized through the use of chiropractic procedures based on available rational and empirical evidence.

The Central Nervous System: your personal computer

The Central Nervous System controls all body functions through an extensive network of communication: the peripheral nervous system, which innervates every organ and cell of your body. Every movement that you make, like typing on the keyboard; every sensation that you perceive, like reading this text; every vital process of your body that happens automatically right now, like the beating of your heart, your respiration, or maintaining blood pressure, is performed by this fantastic computer and its extensions.

It is what allows your body to maintain a natural state of health by coordinating the assessments and commands made by your brain with the sensory organs interacting with the environment. The cranial bones and the vertebral column, the central axis of the locomotor system, protect this delicate and incredibly complex apparatus (The Central Nervous System - brain and spinal cord). From there, it divides into trillions of neurons that reach each and every part of your body so that innate intelligence can completely express itself and keep you alive and healthy.

Relationship between the vertebral column, nervous system, and the organs it innervates

The vertebral subluxation complex

It is vital that the nervous system function without interference to perform optimally.

The protective organ of the nervous system, the vertebral column, may be exposed to limitations of its function that may have negative consequences on the nervous system, and, in turn, affect the whole organism.

The vertebral column is made up of 26 mobile segments, outside of the articulation with the cranium, that allows a certain grade of mobility that is of great importance.

This marvel of engineering is a flexible and resistant machine, extremely sophisticated and highly precise. Through a series of factors that accumulate throughout life such as emotional stress, traumatic stress, and chemical stress, some of the vertebral segments may suffer from a decrease in functional capacity and proper range of motion. When this occurs, it produces a certain degree of interference in the nervous system that limits its ability to organize the work of the organism and maintain an optimal level of health.

This phenomenon is what is called the Vertebral Subluxation Complex or vertebral subluxation.

The specific vertebral adjustment

The exclusive specificity of Chiropractic resides in adjusting with precision the affected segments of the vertebral subluxation complex. The adjustment restores the normal function of the vertebral column and eliminates interferences produced in the nervous system. In this process, through the nervous system, the innate vitality and recuperative capacity of the organism are emphasized.

The chiropractic adjustment is studied only in Chiropractic Universities that require a 4 year bachlors of science in a biological subject and then a 3-4 year graduate education.  It is harmless, conservative, and lacks the secondary effects that are typically associated with even the most minor medications. Instead of interfering with the natural functions of the body like those medications, it searches for the reestablishment of equilibrium.

To perform the adjustment, your Doctor of Chiropractic has a wide range of methods available: some consist in a very light touch on a key point, others in smooth and short pressure on the affected articulation. At times the adjustment is accompanied by a light sound of gas movement when the vertebra regains its freedom of movement. He/She might use tables specifically designed for Chiropractic, perform the adjustment is different positions, or use the phases of respiration and certain movements of your body to stimulate neurological integration. The adjustment acts on the vertebral column and cranium, as well as other areas of your body such as shoulders, knees, feet and sinuses!

From the extensive training in adjustment methods acquired through four years of superior university studies, your Doctor of Chiropractic will work with you to determine which technique to use to achieve the best results for your particular condition.

Chiropractic: the profession

It is fundamental to understand what this health science can do for you.  That it is not only a technique, but, above all, a profession. Chiropractic is the third primary health profession in the world, after Medicine and Dentistry, and has the fastest growth.

It is already the second in the United States, the country where it was founded in 1895 by David Palmer. It was created and developed in a separate and independent manner from Medicine. Even though it requires the same level of university studies, it distinguishes itself by its vitalistic philosophy and excludes the use of medication and surgery.  Chiropractic care is dedicated to liberating the potential health of the organism via the specific, manual adjustment.

Chiropractic: science, art and philosophy

Chiropractic is a science through the university education and scientific studies in which it is based. Art through the years of learning that are required to perform the specific, manual adjustments. But the uniqueness of Chiropractic resides even more in its philosophy, in its vision of the human being, through which its practice is derived.

Chiropractic recognizes that the body is much more than the most sophisticated and perfect machine: it possesses the capacity to heal itself, which is known as innate intelligence in Chiropractic. The same intelligence, the same force, that, after the union of the two cells that creates a human being, it is best situated to cure itself and maintain its own health throughout life.

This intelligence is expressed through the nervous system: the brain and it's communication network that connect it to the rest of the body.

The purpose of chiropractic consists of aiding that innate intelligence, this capacity of the body to cure itself and be healthy, and express itself fully by being free of interference. The interferences, produced by various factors, are principally formed in the vertebral column, in which is where chiropractic focuses the major part of its attention.

What does the Chiropractor do? Visit our office!

The Doctor of Chiropractic, after listening to your history and asking suitable questions, will endeavour to understand the genesis of your health problems and vertebral subluxations. He/She will pay particular attention to aspects of your daily living that may be playing a role in the development of your problems. They will conduct a chiropractic exam including postural exam, assessment of range of movement, analysis of certain neurological mechanisms, and direct manual examination of the vertebral articular function and may ask that you get certain imaging performed (x-ray, MRI, CT scan) to help formulate your diagnosis. Other articulations and areas of the body that could be related to the problem may also be evaluated.

Later, he/she will analyze and make a conclusion based on the information gathered to form his/her professional opinion. Before continuing, he/she will explain to you the conclusions, and if he/she decides to accept your case, the program of necessary adjustments and the objectives to be pursued.

Chiropractors collaborate with other health care professionals and refer patients that require the consultation of other health care providers if the patient's status of health requires other intervention or palliative care.

The recuperation and maintenance of health is teamwork, and, once began, on top of performing the adjustments, will also include focusing on aspects of your way of life to foster the capacity of you body to maintain itself healthy (exercise, relaxation, diet, mental attitude...).