Chiropractic

What is it? /Origins

All chiropractors believe our general health is fundamentally linked to the state of our spine and nerves. They believe if something is wrong with the spine, there is a problem with the nervous system. Problems with the nervous system can cause pain or other ailments anywhere in the body. Problems with the nervous system make it more difficult for the body to heal itself.

Chiropractic originates from a holistic approach and belief that sets it apart from conventional medicine and scientific explanation. Chiropractic medicine however has amalgamated with conventional medicine, gaining recognition for its scientific principles and embraced by mainstream community.

What is it used for?

Chiropractic can be applied to a wide range of conditions, commonly used for

• Pain associated with muscles, joints, headaches and migraines
• Issues regarding the back, neck, legs and shoulders
• Heavily in sports to treat injuries and pain
• Period\Menstrual issues
• Rehabilitation
• Asthma
• Digestive problems

Chiropractors believe that almost any issue with the body can be traced back to the spine and that injuries inevitably result in a misalignment of the spine.

How does it work?

An initial consultation with a chiropractor will generally involve getting an overview of your lifestyle taking into account your habits, diet, work, relationships; basically anything that can affect your physical health and stress levels.

They will most likely have you carrying out some basic tasks to test for your mobility and analyze other physiological aspects. 

The most common Chiropractic treatment involves re-aligning the spine. If the spine is misaligned it is believed that this can be the cause of many health problems. Chiropractors work on the premise that correcting this misaligning of the spine will correct a health issue. In order to realign the spine, chiropractors will work along the spinal column and pelvic area making short, strong and quick movements referred to as “high velocity thrusts”.

Generally a Chiropractor will want to have a plan in place to ensure that you place yourself in the best position to recover, re-align your spine etc perhaps involving some exercises you can do at home and follow up sessions.

The scientific basis and effectiveness of chiropractic is still uncertain despite it being widely accepted by conventional practitioners.

Is it safe?

A consultation with a Chiropractor will establish as to whether it is safe for an individual. For most people, this treatment is safe, but it will be unsuitable for others where being subject to high velocity thrusts could be very dangerous, for example, conditions relating to weak bones such as osteoporosis.

There is a small danger of an artery in the upper spine being damaged or stroke, but cases are rare and there is no statistical evidence available to reflect the frequency of such cases.

It is normal for pain and discomfort to increase during and immediately after a chiropractic treatment, often lasting well into the next day. After this subsides, it is hoped that the condition will then improve.