Chiropractic provides care for all ages from birth into the golden years, for those presenting with a wide range of conditions. Some patients present without any symptoms but just want to ensure good health and optimal function with regular spinal checks – just as you would visit a dentist to check the health of your teeth and gums.
Chiropractic is based on the scientific fact that your body is a self-regulating and self-healing organism. This intelligence is known as innate intelligence. The brain and nervous system (a direct communication of the brain) are fundamental to our existence and well-being.
Chiropractors look specifically for areas of spinal dysfunction known as vertebral subluxations. Chiropractors are fully trained to identify these subluxations through a variety of neurological, orthopaedic and palpatory tests/skills.
Without restoration of normal joint movement, proper neurological function cannot exist. A chiropractic adjustment restores healthy movement, breaking up scar tissue and maximising the body’s ability to function optimally. Repeated adjustments are necessary if long term correction and restoration is to occur.
All internal organs of the body receive a nerve supply from the spine and when your body is in pain, the spine could well be the first place to think about.
It’s certainly not just back pains – many other pains in the body can have their origin traced back to a small misalignment in the spine. For example, head pains can come from the top three vertebrae in the spinal column.
Neck, shoulder and elbow pains together with pains in arms, wrists, hands and fingers such as ‘pins and needles’ and weak muscles can often come from slightly lower down the chain of cervical vertebrae and the upper two thoracic vertebrae.
It seems that the majority of people usually experience lower back pains at some time in their lives. Often that is related to the five biggest and thickest vertebrae known as ‘the lumbar vertebrae’. They need to be the biggest because these support the weight of the entire spine which is why so many spinal problems start from something not quite right in this region of the back. Organs such as the stomach, liver spleen, pancreas and the intestines are supplied from this area of the spine.
Leg, ankle and foot pains can also come from this area of the spine, often through the sacral plexus that forms the sciatic and other nerves that serve the muscles and joints in the same area and can be the cause of ‘pins and needles’.
In summary, your spinal column is fundamental to your health because
• It protects the central nervous system
• supports your hips and shoulders
• serves as an attachment to the muscles, and
• supports your head and ribs.
So any part of your body that is in pain or not functioning optimally could be due to a misalignment of your spine.
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Quite simply, the great majority of spinal problems arise from “the daily grind of life.” Normal daily activities place a strain on your spine. Your job, your posture, your sleeping positions, any accidents, a pregnancy and other major changes all have the potential to cause damage to muscles, joints, ligaments and nerves.
The everyday pressure from normal activities can cause spinal bones to lose their normal motion or position and become dysfunctional. Your chiropractor’s aim is to detect and treat and dysfunction and as a result of which, promote better health, both now and for your future.
Chiropractic treatment is a drug free pain relief treatment that is beneficial
for numerous complaints. You will need to make sure that your chiropractor
is aware of your health difficulties as they may well be able to help. Chiropractors
can successfully treat a wide range of conditions including
• Neck pain
• Whiplash
• Tendonitis
• Headaches
• Migraines
• Dizziness
• Back pain
• Sciatica
• Hip pain • Muscle strains
• Sports injuries
• Pins and needles
• Postural problems
• Repetitive strain injury
• Arthritis
• Frozen shoulder
• Tennis elbow
• Knee pain • Numbness
• Ear infections
• Spondylosis/spondylitis
• Trapped nerves
• Slipped disc
• Colic
• Golfer’s elbow
• Ligament strains
• Digestive complaints
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Subluxations – what and how?
A subluxation is a complex functional and/or structural joint restrictions and/or pathological articular changes that may compromise the nervous system and overall general health with or without pain.
They are thought to occur due to three types of stressor:
1. Traumas – this can be macro trauma such as birth trauma, falls, accidents and sporting injuries or micro traumas which tend to be classified as repetitive strain injuries as a result of chronic bad posture (school, work, car, home etc.); chronic sedentary lifestyle and overuse injuries (carpentry, mechanics, electricians, plasterers etc.)
These types of trauma lead to tissue injuries and result in scar tissue being formed in the muscles, ligaments, joint capsules and even bone surfaces leading to functional changes that gives rise to decreased movement in the joints and surrounding tissues. Due to these changes, there is a reduction in the amount of information being relayed from the nervous system back to the brain, resulting in further reduced movement.
Immobilisation leads to muscle tension resulting in excessive degeneration of cartilage compressing bony surfaces together, contributing to the development of osteoarthritis.
2. Toxins – these can be in the form of food additives, environmental toxins and even poor nutrition. Although the link between this and changes in joint mobility may seem hard to comprehend, there is evidence to show changes due to chemical reactions and the overall systemic effect on the autonomic nervous system. The effects of diet – toxins and deficiency are covered in more detail at our advanced health workshops.
3. Autosuggestion – this is concerned with chronic emotional stressors, resulting
in chronic muscle tension leading to muscle spasm, shortening, energy and metabolism
changes. Chronic stressors give rise to an increase in cortisol levels, an
important hormone in the body, secreted by the adrenal glands and involved
in vital functions such as glucose metabolism, regulation of blood pressure,
insulin release for blood sugar maintenance and immune function. Chronic stress
levels have negative effects raising blood pressure, poor memory/concentration,
hyperglycaemia/diabetes and may more diseases of lifestyle.
Pregnancy
This is a time of joy and excited anticipation. Pregnant women undergo many structural and hormonal changes that affect the spinal joints, pelvis, surrounding ligaments and, of course, the nervous system. These changes in the centre of gravity and relaxation of surrounding pelvic ligaments can often lead to instability and back discomfort and pelvic floor weakness post partum. Many professionals have observed that chiropractic care may help maintain pregnancy, control vomiting/morning sickness and deliver full-term infants with greater ease. Chiropractic has demonstrated success with back discomfort, premature contractions and back labour.
Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to shorten labout by 50% to 60% and to reduce the pain relief by 50%. Pre-natal care has demonstrated correction of breech presentations in which the baby is not correctly positioned for birth. The Webster Breech Technique relaxes the uterus, enabling the baby to turn naturally.
In a survey of 82 midwives, 57% refer women to chiropractors.
Infants and babies
Birth trauma -- the first subluxation: the birthing process can be a traumatic event where orthodox obstetrical procedures can result in mechanical stress to the infant’s spine, facial and skull bones. A study of 1250 babies examined 5 days after birth. 211 of those infants were reported to be suffering with vomiting, sleeplessness and hyperactivity, 95% of that group were found to have spinal abnormalities.
Chiropractic adjustment resulted in the immediate relief of reported symptoms.
It has been noted that those with unhealthy spines present with lower resistance
to infections, especially the ear, nose and throat and repeated problems with
infantile colic.
Healthier children
Many parents appreciate the importance of regular check ups for their children’s teeth, hearing and sight, but never think to check the spine, the very structure which governs and protects the function of the nervous system, which without proper function leads to neurological compromise. Vertebral subluxations have many causes and can occur as early as the birthing process.
Toddlerhood through to childhood is a very physical time. Those first footsteps evolve to jumping and running with many a fall along the way. For that reason, all children need periodic spinal checks. If your child is suffering from any of the following, it is essential to get his/her spine checked.
• Weakness of fatigue
• Poor concentration
• Poor balance
• Ear infections
• Painful joints
• Stomach aches
• Sinus/runny nose problems
• Hip, leg or foot pain
• Asthma/chest infections
• Breast feeding difficulty
• Headaches
• Neckaches/stiffness
• Bed wetting
• Scoliosis
• Colic
• Irritability
Hyperactivity and learning disorders
Doctors of chiropractic have long noticed the benefits of chiropractic on neurological and emotional components, especially amongst children. Learning disorders including hyperactivity, attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (AHD), dyslexia and dyspraxia amongst others. The rate at which these disorders are being diagnosed is increasing at a staggering rate.
The standard medical treatment for hyperactivity is amphetamines such as Ritalin. This drug is a classified type drug along with cocaine, morphine, opium and methadone. The side effects are severe and have been known to increase heart rate, arrest growth, insomnia, irritability and social withdrawal.
Chiropractors locate and treat areas of vertebral subluxation within the spine, which may be causing lack of optimal neurological function. Parents and teachers alike have reported the effectiveness of chiropractic care with a reduction in hyperactivity, an increase in concentration, balance and co-ordination. Several studies have been conducted within the USA demonstrating an overall improvement in children’s academic and athletic performances.
In conjunction with the right nutrition, exercise advice, Chiropractic may
help your children experience optimal expression of life.
Who’s watching your back?
• General Chiropractic Council (GCC) (plus web site links from current site)
• British Chiropractic Association (plus web site links from current site)
• Education requirements
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With its origins in the USA, chiropractic first became about in 1895 by its founder, Dr. D.D. Palmer. He was one of the first practitioners to discover the importance of the spine and its unique and intimate relationship with the nervous system. This discovery is what led to the development of chiropractic; Greek words meaning “done by hand.”
His first adjustments were performed in 1895, relieving one man of deafness and another of a heart complaint. As a result he went on to train others in the application of chiropractic and by 1897 the Palmer School was founded. Today, Palmer School continues to grow and educate the next generation of chiropractors.
D.D. Palmer’s son, B.J. went on to develop the profession. His contributions included extensive research and raising educational standards despite much legal and financial resistance in order to bring chiropractic to the forefront of health services.
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The 21st Century has seen a real and rapid rise in lifestyle diseases that affect overall health and performance. These include diabetes, sudden heart attacks, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, heavy headaches, depression – the list goes on and on but where do you start?
[ read more ]