What is Chiropractic Care Chiropractic healthcare is a branch of the healing arts based on the scientific fact that our nervous system controls or influences the function of every cell in our body. Interference to the nervous system (caused by the Vertebral Subluxation Complex or Nerve Impingement Syndrome) will effect how the nervous system relates to the cells to which it travels.
The term "Chiropractic" comes from the Greek words "cheiro and praktikos" meaning "done by hand." The Chiropractic model of health is centered on the philosophy that the human body, being knit together in a wonderful way, will heal itself given the right opportunity and circumstances. Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) essentially promote the healing process by minimizing nerve interference.
When do you need a Chiropractor? The purpose of the Chiropractic approach to healthcare (the wellness model) is to uncover your health conditions, not merely cover up your symptoms. The absence of symptoms (pain) does not equal good health! The clearest way to illustrate this is by reviewing the statistics on heart attacks. Research reveals that in approximately 33% of all heart attacks, the first symptom of the attack is death!
Wellness care encompasses several aspects of overall health, which can be physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.
Chiropractic Education Most people are unaware that today's Doctors of Chiropractic undergo virtually the same intense education process as Medical and Osteopathic students for the first two years of professional school. Medical students and Chiropractic students alike, spend a tremendous amount of time studying anatomy, physiology, neurology and other basic sciences. The main difference during the first two years is that Medical students have a heavy emphasis on pharmacology (study of prescription drugs) and Chiropractic students emphasize nutrition and natural alternatives to drugs.
The programs take a different turn after the first two years. Medical students prepare for the “trade” by rotating each month to different medical specialties such as pediatrics, orthopedics and family medicine.
The second two years of education for Chiropractic students focuses on learning the tools of their “trade.” Chiropractic treatment today can be effective using manual and computer controlled care, such as with the ProAdjuster.
Both doctors of Medicine and Chiropractic are very well trained to treat their respective patients utilizing the skills of their professions. The most promising and encouraging change in today's treatment environment is that many healthcare clinics provide both Chiropractic and Medical care for their patients.
The Chiropractic model of health is centered around the philosophy that the human body, being knit together in a wonderful way, will heal itself given the right opportunity and circumstances.
Chiropractic Facts & Figures, Your x-rays
1. Chiropractic Care is Safe and Effective. The safety of Chiropractic care has been well documented in professional journals of all kinds. Serious side-effects of Chiropractic manipulative therapy occur with approximately one out of every one million adjustments. Compare this to the serious side-effects of medicines and surgical errors to put safety in perspective. Research reveals that some 100,000 people die each year from effects of prescription drugs that were prescribed by their doctors. This isn’t meant to be “M.D. bashing,” it’s just the simple truth about the safety of prescription medications, as reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association (April 1998). The article continues to say, “Discovering new dangers of drugs after marketing is common. Overall, 51% of approved drugs have serious adverse effects not detected prior to approval. Merely discovering adverse affects is not by itself sufficient to protect the public. Each year prescription drugs injure 1.5 million people so severely they require hospitalization and 100,000 die making prescription drugs the 4th leading cause of death in the United States.” So the question was about the safety of Chiropractic care?
2. Chiropractors are real Doctors. Doctors of Chiropractic (D.C.) comprise the second largest health care profession with over 50,000 practitioners in the U.S. They earn the title “doctor” along with Medical Doctors (M.D.), Doctors of Osteopathy (D.O.), and Dentists (D.D.S. and D.M.D.).
The educational process leading to the title Doctor of Chiropractic is quite similar to that of an M.D. and D.O. In order to obtain a D.C. degree, a student must complete several years of pre-chiropractic studies at a college or university, followed by four academic years of Chiropractic education (totaling a minimum of 7 years of study). The Chiropractic student’s last year is spent in a clinical internship (similar to M.D. or D.O. “rotations”). During this time the Chiropractic intern, under the supervision of a licensed D.C., will consult, examine and treat patients in a clinic setting. Upon graduation and earning the Doctor of Chiropractic degree, a state licensing exam must be passed in order to practice.
Chiropractic students study many of the same textbooks as Medical and Osteopathic students. As a matter of fact, a Chiropractic student accumulates more course hours in anatomy, physiology, biomechanics (how the body moves), neurology, and nutrition than their Medical and Osteopathic colleagues.
3. Chiropractic is part of a wellness lifestyle. Chiropractic care is like “orthodontics” for the spine. Clinically, repeated Chiropractic adjustments “train” the vertebrae to maintain their proper alignment and movement. Like the time required for braces to achieve correction depends on an individual’s teeth and mouth structure, the time required for proper structural positioning to occur depends on the condition of the patient’s spine, their job and other daily lifestyle activities.
Think of your spinal adjustments like maintaining your car. It’s recommended that you change your car’s oil every 3,000 or so miles. For how long you ask? For as long as you own the car! While some individuals drive 3,000 miles in a week, others do so in a month or two. The point is, however, that we change our oil on a regular basis. The same goes for caring for your spine. Whether to get adjusted weekly, monthly or quarterly depends on each patient’s specific health condition. Remember, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!” Don’t let your car’s engine fall out before changing its oil!
More... Nerve Impingement SyndromeNerve Impingement Syndrome (NIS), or a Subluxation, occurs when a misalignment of one or more of the joints in the spine places pressure on a nerve. Nerves communicate from the brain through the spinal cord and nervous system. Pressure on the nerves can cause interference with the transmitted signal. This can cause pain and/or discomfort, as well as other symptoms.
In addition to pain, other symptoms of Nerve Impingement Syndrome Include:
Are you among the thousands that are suffering needlessly because of a lack of understanding of your symptoms? If so, would not you like to relieve these symptoms and return to a happier, healthier lifestyle?
Cause...The misalignment of a joint is called Nerve Impingement Syndrome or a Subluxation. This can develop for a variety of reasons, including an accident trauma, poor posture or diet, lack of or incorrect exercise, a sports or repetitive motion injury, relationship or financial stress.
It is the Subluxation that creates the Nerve Impingement Syndrome that prevents you from enjoying all of life pleasures.
Nerve Impingement Syndrome Facts:
• 80% of all childbirths result in Nerve Impingement Syndrome.
• 40% of all children fall on their heads by age 1, according to OSHA; this can result in Nerve Impingement Syndrome.
• Between the ages of 2 and 5 years old, children fall over 200 times; this can be a major cause of Nerve Impingement Syndrome.
• Within 2 years of receiving a drivers license, 70% of all teens are involved in an auto accident. Car accidents often result in Nerve Impingement Syndrome.
• Because there are so many causes of Nerve Impingement Syndrome, everyone at some time or another will suffer from NIS. In many cases, the symptoms do not appear for months or even years.
• When the body detects a problem, over time it compensates for it. This compensation causes PAIN. If left untreated, this condition could lead to the destruction of the joint and irreversible damage to the nerve, causing chronic pain, or worse.