What's the best way to talk about Chiropractic?

So what is chiropractic anyway, and how do you talk about it? 

I made a cheat sheet for my new patients that I have them read before we begin care. I also send it out when people ask me questions about chiropractic and how it works. I thought, you know, I might as well share that with you!

So what is a chiropractor?

Chiropractors are physicians who hold four-year doctorate degrees, national board certifications and state licenses in order to practice. Typically, chiropractors focus the majority of their attention on the spine as a means of eliminating the vertebral subluxation complex, or spinal misalignments and the various physiological changes that occur concurrently with them. Chiropractors may also work on any other joint or soft tissue structure in the muscle and skeletal system. Chiropractors call the manipulations that they perform adjustments. There are over 300 named chiropractic techniques, ensuring that there will be a technique that can be personalized to work for you.

What is chiropractic?

Chiropractic care is a complimentary alternative medical field that specializes in the neuromusculoskeletal system. In other words, it focuses on the nervous system, the muscles and the joints of the body. Chiropractic is widely recognized to be very effective at managing pain and relieving pain generators associated with low back pain, neck pain and headaches. New research has also shown that chiropractic care can boost the immune system, reduce healing time from most injuries, speed up reflexes, lower clinical anxiety, and elevate mood.

What is an Adjustment?

Chiropractic adjustments, in layman's terms, are specific, quick, low-force pulls or pushes of joints that are stuck out of alignment with the goal being to put them back in the right place. They can be performed manually or with adjusting instruments. Your chiropractor will use a variety of analytical tools to assess and diagnosis these subluxations, or misalignments, before delivering the adjustment. 

What is a Subluxation?

Subluxations are the chiropractic name for the misalignment of joints in the spine or elsewhere in the body. When a subluxation is present, there can be neurological compromise. This means that the brain is no longer able to communicate as efficiently as possible with the rest of the body due to the pressure from the misalignment on the nerves exiting the spinal column. As a result, muscle pain and stiffness, organ dysfunction, loss of reflexes, and a host of other ailments may arise depending on the location and duration of the subluxation. Consider if you stepped on a water hose that was flowing. By putting pressure on the hose, you can lower the output of water – just like a subluxation.

I hope that this helps clear up some common misunderstandings and give you the vocabulary to understand what you see and hear about chiropractors as well as share your own experiences with your friends and family!

Yours in health,

Dr. William