Chiropractic treatments have a wide range of applications. They can include massage, joint bracing and taping, hot and cold therapy, and stress management techniques. However, the core of chiropractic philosophy is centered around spinal manipulations or adjustments. The aim is to restore movement, improve function and alleviate pain. This is done by using the chiropractor’s hands through manual therapy to apply a controlled, sudden force to the spinal joints.
The central belief is that the human body has a natural ability to heal itself when given the right conditions. The key to this process is the spine, which is the highway of the nervous system. When the spine is in alignment, it allows the body to adapt and deal with physical, chemical and emotional stressors in a constructive manner. A misalignment of the spine can cause an interference with the body’s normal nervous system function and can lead to pain, discomfort, disease or even death.
Regular chiropractic treatment can help prevent spinal misalignments from becoming serious health problems, by identifying and addressing them before symptoms manifest. Chiropractic care can also help people develop and maintain healthy lifestyles, which in turn can promote a stronger immune system and reduce the risk of future illnesses.
Many patients seek chiropractic treatment for musculoskeletal ailments like back pain, neck pain and migraines, but chiropractic treatment is also effective in treating other health issues such as arthritis, headaches, sports injuries and fibromyalgia. Some studies have found that chiropractic treatment can also improve digestion, sleep, asthma and chronic fatigue.
The core of the chiropractic philosophy is that there are interconnected systems in the human body, and each system influences all others. Chiropractic is unique in its approach to holistic medicine, which is a broad approach to wellness that considers mental and physical aspects of well-being.
Chiropractors often use chiropractic adjustment to restore proper spinal alignment, which can have a positive impact on the entire body. For instance, a spinal misalignment can interrupt the flow of nerve signals between the central nervous system and the immune system, resulting in a weaker immune response. Regular chiropractic adjustments can restore the normal communication between these systems, which can strengthen the immune system and prevent common health issues.
The chiropractic profession faces challenges on multiple fronts, including establishing cultural authority within the healthcare system and among the public, maintaining clinical integrity, navigating regulatory and reimbursement issues, and leveraging research and evidence to inform practice. But, despite these conflicts, the chiropractic profession has managed to find an internal coherence that has allowed it to thrive over the decades. This has a lot to do with its strong patient-physician relationship and adherence to the core belief that the human body has an innate capacity for healing itself when the spine is in alignment. This is the essence of chiropractic care: tuning your own symphony of health.
