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Chiropractic

What is Chiropractic?

The word "Chiropractic" stems from the Greek words "cherios" which means "hand," and "pracktikos," which means practice, meaning "the use of." Chiropractic is a health care system which focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders of the musculoskeletal system (muscles, bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, and nerves) and their effects on the nervous system and general health. Hands-on techniques are used to perform spinal, joint and soft tissue manipulation. It is often considered a non-surgical alternative to complaints such as back pain that resist conventional medical therapies.

A basic premise of Chiropractic is that our bodies are able to heal themselves if well taken care of. The human body is well designed, and if treated properly, will function effortlessly and efficiently. Emphasis is placed on techniques which facilitate the body's own healing processes.

A common philosophy of Chiropractic is importance of the integrity of the spine in ensuring proper functioning of the musculoskeletal system. This philosophy is shared by many complementary and alternative therapies, including martial arts, Rolfng, Yoga, QiGong, and Aikido. Another less common philosophy (more so followed in early Chiropractic) is the belief in Chiropractic as a complete system of medicine and that many diseases can be attributed to misalignments of the spine. Based on this belief, spinal manipulation can be used to treat a variety of conditions such as cancer and diabetes.

The examination of the spine is what separates Chiropractic from other health care practices. The spinal column is a series of moveable bones which begin at the base of the skull and end in the center of the pelvic bone (or “hips”). There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves which extend down the center of the spine from the brain which form a complex network throughout the living tissue in the entire body.

Strenuous exercise, falls, tension, overexertion, sleeping in an atypical position, or even sudden movements can cause displacements in the spinal column or other areas of the body, in turn causing irritation to nerve roots. Such irritation can limit range of movement and cause pain, sometimes great pain. Most people see a chiropractor to reduce pain and restore movement in the body that has become limited.

A chiropractor approaches chiropractic work from a holistic perspective. Not only will they diagnose and perform treatments, but should also provide self-care guidance:

1. Recommend lifestyle modifications which are the root cause of the symptoms, e.g. poor posture

2. Provide specific exercises for the client to practice in their own time, such as stretching exercises aimed at counteracting muscles in the body which have been over or undercompensated during daily life activities

3. Provide nutritional advice, often to address weight control

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