How Does Chiropractic Medicine Work?
Understanding the Nervous System
Understanding how chiropractic medicine works starts with a basic understanding of the human nervous system. The nervous system is the control center of the body, with the brain controlling everything that happens in the body. The brain sends nerve impulses to the rest of the body through the spinal chord. Because the spinal cord is so important to the overall function of the body, it is protected by the spinal column. The spine must be able to move, however, so the spinal column is made up of several individual bones called vertebrae that are separated by flexible discs. Nerves extend from between these vertebrae and transfer messages throughout the body. When the spine is perfectly aligned, these nerves can send messages without interference.
When Something Goes Wrong
Sometimes a vertebra will get pulled out of alignment. This can happen after an accident, at birth, because of poor posture or even from stress and tension. When the vertebrae are not aligned correctly, they pinch the nerves that they should be protecting. This causes the messages the brain is sending to the body to encounter interference, causing the body not to function properly. Sometimes pain is felt in the back near the misaligned vertebra, but other times the symptoms appear in other areas of the body that are not functioning properly. For instance, when the nerves that control digestion are pinched, a patient may experience stomach pain and indigestion. Chiropractors call this misalignment of the vertebrae "subluxation."
The Goal of Chiropractic Treatment
The goal of chiropractic medicine is to locate these subluxations, put the vertebrae back in position, and thus cause the body to function better as a whole unit. The first step in the process is locating the subluxations. Most chiropractors use an X-ray to do this, although some will locate these spots with their hands. Once the subluxations are located, the chiropractor uses his or her hands to adjust the vertebrae back into place. Some chiropractors will limit the amount of force applied to the back and neck by using a tool called an activator to make the adjustment, rather than the doctor's hand.
Typical Chiropractic Treatment Schedules
Most patients who receive chiropractic care after an injury will begin with a vigorous treatment schedule that includes several visits per week. After several weeks of this aggressive therapy, the patient will visit fewer times per week in order to train the vertebrae to hold the adjustment on their own. Once the patient has recovered from the injury, many chiropractors will recommend a periodic visit to help head off any new problems before they become painful. This is known as preventative or maintenance chiropractic care.
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