Chiropractic

“ The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and the cause and prevention of disease.”

                                                                                                    Thomas Edison

Above is a famous quote that Chiropractors have used for the past 50 years to explain Chiropractic principles.  In short, it does somewhat explain a Chiropractor’s philosophy.  However, it does not go into the extensive understanding and application of a Chiropractor’s structural and musculoskeletal education.

As B.J. Palmer, the developer of Chiropractic said, “Chiropractic is a science of things natural; not a science of symptoms, not a science to chemically analyze the constituents of the human body (normal or abnormal).  But it is the science of how to analyze certain conditions quickly back to the cause, and we only utilize conditions in so far as they exist as a guidepost or mile-post on the road, telling us purely which way we must go.”

What do Chiropractors do?  

Chiropractors are trained to ensure your nervous system is free of spinal nerve interference.  They believe in whole body wellness.  Wellness is the state of health where your body is free of spinal nerve interference, allowing you freedom to express motion without pain.  Your Chiropractor will discover any spinal nerve interference within the spinal column and with specific Chiropractic adjustments (manipulations), will correct them. Your body will then be free to express the nerve energy to allow for normal healing at an optimal level.

Chiropractors teach you how you can live “interference free.”  This is achieved through better posture, good diet, an exercise life and better sleep habits leading to a higher quality life.

What are “Subluxations” that Chiropractors talk about?

The body depends on the free flow of the nerve communication from the brain, through the spine column, to every part of the body.  When any of the nerves get irritated by trauma or sometimes by our careless body movement, any motion that causes the vital communication system of our body to be interrupted. The neurological interruptions are termed “subluxations” by the Chiropractic profession.

How are subluxations corrected?

Doctors of Chiropractic are specifically trained to diagnose and correct vertebral subluxations.  Your Chiropractor will perform specific case history, test, and possibly x-rays or an MRI, to determine if and where the subluxation may be present in your spine causing the problem. 

Are all patients adjusted (manipulated) the same?

No. Your Chiropractor will take a case history and perform certain specific test to determine if you are subluxated and where, when and how it should be corrected.  There are numerous techniques and procedures taught in Chiropractic schools throughout the world.  Your Chiropractor may be trained in one or many of the procedures used to correct the problem for you.

For instance, Dr. John Stump, the clinic director of Alternative Concepts Corporation is trained in over 25 different specific Chiropractic techniques because he taught “Technique” at two different Chiropractic Colleges in the Untied States, and one in Japan, and one in Korea. 

Does it hurt to be adjusted?       

No. Very few people ever feel uncomfortable during or after a Chiropractic treatment.  When you allow the vertebrae in your spine to return to the normal position, there is less stress, tension and pain on your ligaments, tendons and muscles.

Once you get treated, do you have to continue to be treated? 

No.  However, it would be to an advantage for you to speak with your Chiropractor about a wellness or maintenance plan.  Once the symptoms disappear, most people are tempted to quit coming in for treatment.  Just because the symptoms disappear does not mean the problem has been corrected completely.  The symptoms are at times the first thing to disappear.  Many spinal problems have been neglected for years.  These long standing problems usually involve soft tissue damage, weak musculature and degenerative changes. This is true in the spine as well as the remainder of the body.  That is why periodic check ups will allow problems to be caught before they become a chronic degenerative condition.

What typically happens on the first visit? 

Here at the Integrative Medicine Centre practice you will fill out a complete health history questionnaire detailing past injuries or problems and the present problem or symptoms.  Remember, your Chiropractor is not asking about your symptoms because they are going to treat them.  The symptoms help identify and label the problem.  This helps you when the insurance company asks for the symptoms and the diagnosis when you file your claim.

Your Chiropractor will then give you an examination, consisting of various testing procedures to help determine the exact location of the possible subluxation.  They will then discuss the report of finding with you and decide what treatment schedule will be best for the type of problem you may have.

Some patients present with an injury that just happened, what is termed acute, on the other hand, others present with a problem of long standing they either just decided they couldn’t stand any longer or that medical procedures could not treat successfully.

Currently there are over 25 million people that receive or have received the beneficial results of Chiropractic care.   This number continues to grow as more and more people take responsibility for their health care and choose a non-invasive, drug-free health care system.  We here at the Integrative Medicine Centre are here to help you select the type of care that you wish and that will be the most beneficial for you.