What is chiropractic therapy?

Highly popular for chronic back and headache pain, chiropractic therapy is a form of spinal manipulation aimed at correcting pain-inducing misalignments between the vertebrae. The jury's still out on whether it works, but if you're thinking of trying it, ask your doctor if it's safe for your particular condition, and if x-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans should be done first.

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I’m sure you may have wondered, “Why do people become chiropractors?” Many chiropractors hail from medical families where a parent, sibling or other relative is in the medical profession. There are people who left the practice of medicine for chiropractic. 

Why is that? We’re glad you asked. Chiropractic is a unique profession – we don’t put anything into your body or take anything out – no drugs, no surgery, no devices, no chemicals. And yet case histories abound of people with all kinds of horrible conditions (some of which we mention in this newsletter each month) rediscovering health and wellness after a chiropractic adjustment. Who is the real doctor? The real doctor is you. Your body has the ability to heal itself from every disease.

Your chiropractor releases blockages, called subluxations, inside you that interfere with your natural healing ability and therefore prevent full healing. When these blockages are located and released (or adjusted) the result is a healthier you – more balance, more energy, more healing. Chiropractic students learn, among other things, how to locate and correct subluxations.

A nice side effect of becoming a chiropractor is that you learn about a drug-free lifestyle that includes organic and nutrient dense foods, non-invasive peaceful childbirth, breastfeeding and natural immunity. Plus, it’s an enjoyable profession. Enhancing health and wellness is fun and rewarding.

Chiropractic is an approach to health care that tries to relieve pain through spinal manipulation. It is most often used for back or neck pain, and sometimes it is used for headaches or for pain in the arms or legs.

Spinal manipulation involves working on the head, shoulders, neck, back, or hips to help relieve pain. It can range from massage and slow pressing to a quick thrust.

Most doctors of chiropractic (chiropractors) take a natural approach to promoting health through lifestyle changes, nutrition, and exercise. Many chiropractors have extra training in physical rehabilitation and specific exercise therapy. Some also use nutritional analysis, herbal therapy, and acupuncture.