What Is Chiropractic?

Ah…chiropractic.

The profession that few people understand what it actually is.

A profession misunderstood and underutilized at an alarming rate if society actually knew what chiropractic is.

So what is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is the profession concerned with the spine and how altered structure necessarily affects the delicate nervous system that travels through it.

Every scientist, architect, and engineer understands that structure always affects function.

You cannot remove a weight bearing beam from a building or bridge without negatively affecting its strength and function. The same is true regarding our spines. Our spinal column is designed perfectly to allow for optimum function. It protects the vital nervous system and is curved perfectly to allow the nervous system to travel through the spinal column unimpeded.

Change the structure and you have now altered the course the spinal cord must travel and worse, placed major stress upon it as well.

Chiropractic is based upon simple scientific principles that have dramatic consequences when violated. When misalignment of the vertebral column occurs and causes nervous system stress, or dysfunction, the result is suboptimal function which results in suboptimal health and well-being.

This misalignment is known as a Vertebral Subluxation.

Chiropractic rediscovered this age old principle over 100 years ago and has been helping restore health in the sick and help the healthy stay well all those years.

So why does everyone believe chiropractic is about neck and back pain?

Because we’ve told them that.

Chiropractors discovered early in the profession’s history that it was much easier to communicate the value of chiropractic in terms of what people could easily relate to. It made sense to many and still does today that altered alignment of a vertebra would cause spinal pain. It was an easy sell and many still continue to do it today.

Insurance reimbursement for spine related pain sealed the deal.

However, even though many chiropractors believe we should hang our hats on the billion dollar low back pain industry, a large percentage teach that chiropractic has a much wider effect on human health and function and have an ethical and moral obligation to ensure that it is never relegated to that minimized position.

How could I, after seeing what I have seen and knowing what I know about health, structure and function, allow this service to be hidden from the public who desperately deserve the entire benefits it offers?

If you knew chiropractic could help you and your family experience a better quality of life and health, would you pursue it?

It seems like a silly question but in my experience as a chiropractor over the last 10 years, I can tell you that people make choices based upon a wide array of factors that lie outside the realm of pure logic. Even when people understand that chiropractic helps their bodies have less neurological stress which equals a better quality of life, many still don’t make the choice to receive regular care.

It comes down to what they value and often times people don’t truly value their health and lives. A good example of this is a chronic smoker or someone that constantly eats in excess. They obviously understand it is detrimental to their health and longevity, yet continue anyway.

They may stop smoking or limit their intake of food once a serious condition develops but often times pick up where they left off once the condition is “under control.”

Many people utilize chiropractic the same way. They may seek care when a condition has developed after months or years of chronic neurological stress caused by vertebral subluxation to only discontinue care once they are “feeling” better. Using chiropractic in this manner is like eating oranges to address scurvy and then reverting to a diet without any vitamin C once you are “better.”

Maintaining the health, structure and function of your spine and nervous system is a healthy thing to do. You don’t just do it once or when you have a problem. Like the dentist, you go to the chiropractor on a regular basis to maintain good health and function.

If you’ve never been to a chiropractor, I highly recommend you get checked soon to evaluate the health of your spine and nervous system. If it’s been a while since your last visit or you only utilized chiropractic for an acute condition in the past, reevaluate what it is you want for your health and life and consider adding regular checkups to your list of healthy things to do.

If you would like a referral to a chiropractor who is focused on the correction of nervous system stress caused by vertebral subluxation, send me a message and I will find someone for you or your  family member.