What is Chiropractic? Chiropractic Philosophy Evolution & History Are you Aware... Common Conditions Helpful Information Health Care Survey What is Chiropractic? Chiropractic is a branch of the health sciences which focuses upon the body's neuromusculoskeletal system (the nerves, muscles, bones and joints of the body). A chiropractor is concerned with how your body's skeletal and nervous system is functioning. Since your spine is the key highway for your central nervous system, a chiropractor is trained to use a variety of diagnostic methods to examine and treat your spine and bone structure. Although the major focus of chiropractic is on the spine and central nervous system, your chiropractor is concerned with the wellness of your whole body. Since your nervous system determines how well you feel physically, mentally, and emotionally, many problems you are experiencing may be related to a problem with your spine and nervous system. How the body is built determines how it will function. Your quality and quantity of life is dependent on your health and any deviation from the ideal structure and function of all parts of the body will affect your health negatively thereby having detrimental effects on your quality and quantity of life. Illness and disease are quite often the result and are typified by the presence of symptoms such as pain, numbness, tingling, nausea, shortness of breath, etc. Treating symptoms is not the same as treating the illness or disease. The source of the problem, the actual cause must be identified in order to properly deal with any health concerns. In reality, true health care is based on staying healthy by preventing changes in structure or function of the body which is where chiropractic truly shines. In short, chiropractic is the science of diagnosing and correcting nerve pressure. Once nerve pressure is corrected, your body can return to functioning normally. By putting bones back in place or by creating normal movement in joints, the irritated or pinched nerves can be relieved. When the nerves are free, the nerves will heal and health will be restored to whatever parts of the body that are supplied by that nerve including muscles, joints, organs and glands. With optimum structure and function your body can do its best with all its daily requirements. Bones or joints in the body that are not sitting or moving the way they should are called subluxations (click to view chart). These subluxations irritate the surrounding nerves, muscles, ligaments, tendons, joint capsules, organs and glands of the body. Through a treatment approach called an adjustment, chiropractors are able to restore normal structure and function to these subluxations thereby removing the cause of many health problems. The adjustment is gentle, safe, effective and one of the most well researched forms of health care in the world. Sign-up to receive Dr. Dave's bi-monthly newsletter, filled with helpful information to keep yourself healthy and happy. Add me Remove Me Email List Management by Ezine Director Download these two exclusive reports: "6 Secrets to a Healthy Pain-Free Body" and "6 Secrets to a Healthy Child". Copyright © 2003, Dr. David Koivuranta. All rights reserved.